Abstract:
The method involves precipitating a hard mask on a titanium substrate, masking the hard mask with a photoresist layer, and structuring the photo resist layer. A reactive ion etching (RIE) is implemented on the masked hard layer to structure a micro fluidic structure on the hard mask. The structured photo resist layer is removed, and the micro fluidic structure is etched in the hard masked titanium substrate under utilization of a deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) e.g. chlorine-based DRIE etching and a chlorine-boron-trichloride-mixture-based DRIE etching.
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.
Abstract:
A micro-component (10) comprises a substrate (12) having a planar surface (14) and a micro-channel (18); a covering plate (30) on the planar surface; an electro-spraying emitter forming a section of the substrate and/or the covering plate; and a sample inlet gate in fluid communication with a line and allowing a fluid sample to be conveyed from an external source in a defined sample path. Independent claims are also included for the following: (i) the production of the micro-component; and (ii) for the ionization of a fluid sample in a spraying chamber using the micro-component. Preferred Features: The emitter has a concave or planar end surface arranged next to the sample outlet gate.