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Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
Ionic liquid ion sources: characterization of externally wetted emitters
Paulo Lozano1, Manuel Martínez-Sánchez
1Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 37-438, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. plozano@mit.edu
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|December 14, 2004
Summary
Researchers explored generating ion beams from ionic liquids using specialized emitters. This study demonstrates the potential for creating diverse bipolar ion beams for applications in ion lithography, analytical instruments, and space propulsion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Chemistry
Background:
- Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) offer unique properties for various applications.
- Generating stable ion beams is crucial for technologies like ion lithography and space propulsion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of electrostatically extracting and accelerating ions from RTILs in a high vacuum.
- To characterize the properties of ion beams generated from RTILs.
- To explore the potential applications of these ion beams.
Main Methods:
- Utilized externally wetted emitters made of tungsten wire, similar to those for liquid metal ion sources.
- Employed electrochemical treatment to sharpen the tungsten tip and enhance surface wettability.
- Investigated the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMI-BF4) as a model system.
- Conducted time-of-flight spectrometry and angular distribution measurements.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful electrostatic extraction and acceleration of ions from EMI-BF4.
- Identified emitted ion species including EMI+ and BF4- along with their molecular adducts.
- Observed ion beam energies close to applied potentials.
- Measured ion beam divergence angles not exceeding 18 degrees.
Conclusions:
- Confirmed the feasibility of generating ion beams from RTILs using described methods.
- Highlighted the potential for creating a wide array of bipolar nonmetallic ion beams by varying ionic liquids.
- Suggested diverse applications in ion lithography, analytical equipment, and space propulsion.
