Micro-device with electro-spray emitter

    公开(公告)号:GB2370519A

    公开(公告)日:2002-07-03

    申请号:GB0126980

    申请日:2001-11-09

    Abstract: A micro-device 10 comprises a planar substrate 12 with a microchannel 18 a cover plate 30, sample inlet port 20 and a protruding electro-spray emitter 42 suitably shaped to permit the formation of a Taylor cone from a sample passing there-through, under the influence of an electric field. Fig. 1C showing the device post removal of portions of material to form the protrusion of the electro-spray emitter 42. Also disclosed is a method of manufacture of the aforementioned micro-device comprising the use of "non-mechanical" material removal means, negating the need for "photo-resist masking", such as laser ablation or photochemical etching. Further disclosed is the use of the aforementioned micro-device in electro-spray emission, involving the passing a sample through the device and forming a Taylor cone of a sample material under the influence of an electric field at the mouth 22 of the emitter 42. The micro-device 10 may be used in the preparation of samples for subsequent processing in a mass-spectrometer. The device 10 may be composed of a polymeric material, the emitter 42 may be coated in metal. A variety of emitter 42 shapes are disclosed in later figures. The microchannel may be in the order of 1žm to 200 žm in cross-section.

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