Micro-nozzle array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10297435-B2
Application number	US-201615007708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2016
Priority date	Jan 27, 2015
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to a micro-nozzle array comprising a plurality of capillaries comprising a first silica-based material and a second silica-based material substantially surrounding the first silica-based material of the plurality of capillaries, and a plurality of nozzles extending beyond a face of the micro-nozzle array, each nozzle corresponding to a single capillary, wherein each nozzle comprises the first silica-based material. The micro-nozzle array may be used in hydrodynamic or electro-osmotic applications. In one embodiment the micro-nozzle array is a multiple electrospray emitter. The invention also relates to methods for preparing and using micro-nozzle arrays.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A micro-nozzle array, comprising:
a plurality of capillaries, each capillary comprising a first silica-based material;
a second silica-based material, different from the first silica based material, substantially surrounding and contacting the first silica-based material of the plurality of capillaries and filling between the plurality of capillaries;
a plurality of micro-nozzles extending beyond a face of the micro-nozzle array, each micro-nozzle corresponding to a single capillary;
wherein each micro-nozzle comprises the first silica-based material;
wherein the face of the micro-nozzle array comprises the second silica-based material.

2. The micro-nozzle array of claim 1 , wherein the micro-nozzles and/or the face of the micro-nozzle array further comprises a treatment or a coating applied thereto.

3. The micro-nozzle array of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first silica-based material and the second silica-based material is doped.

4. The micro-nozzle array of claim 1 , wherein the first silica-based material is substantially pure silica.

5. The micro-nozzle array of claim 1 , wherein the second silica-based material is boron doped silica.

6. The micro-nozzle array of claim 1 , used in a hydrodynamic application.

7. The micro-nozzle array of claim 1 , used in an electro-osmotic application.

8. A hydrodynamic or electro-osmotic device comprising the micro-nozzle array of claim 1 .

9. A MES emitter comprising the micro-nozzle array of claim 1 .

10. A method of preparing a micro-nozzle array, comprising:
micro-machining a MSF comprising:
a plurality of capillaries, each capillary comprising a first silica-based material; and
a second silica-based material, different from the first silica based material, substantially surrounding and contacting the first silica-based material of the plurality of capillaries and filling between the plurality of capillaries;

wherein the micro-machining produces a plurality of micro-nozzles extending beyond a face of the array, each micro-nozzle corresponding to a single capillary;
wherein each micro-nozzle comprises the first silica-based material;
wherein the face of the micro-nozzle array comprises the second silica-based material.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising applying a treatment or a coating to the micro-nozzles and/or the face of the array.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first silica-based material and the second silica-based material is doped.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first silica-based material is substantially pure silica.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second silica-based material is boron doped silica.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein micro-machining comprises chemical etching the face of the MSF.

16. A method comprising using the micro-nozzle array of claim 1 in a hydrodynamic application.

17. A method comprising using the micro-nozzle array of claim 1 in an electro-osmotic application.

18. A method comprising using the micro-nozzle array of claim 1 as a MES emitter.

Assignees

• Univ Kingston

Inventors

• Oleschuk Richard D
• Fu Yueqiao
• Gibson Graham
• Hutama Timothy

Classifications

• C03B37/01251

  Reshaping the ends · CPC title

• C03B37/01211

  by inserting one or more rods or tubes into a tube · CPC title

• H01J49/167 Primary

  Capillaries and nozzles specially adapted therefor; (electrostatic spraying per se B05B5/00) · CPC title

• C03B37/01228

  Removal of preform material (C03B37/01251 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C03B37/14

  Re-forming fibres or filaments, {i.e. changing their shape}(C03B37/025 takes precedence) · CPC title