Integrated electrospray emitter and methods for making same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11845099-B2
Application number	US-201916977210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2019
Priority date	Mar 1, 2018
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

An electrospray ionization emitter according to various aspects described herein can include an emitter body formed using fused silica. The emitter body can comprise a fluid conduit segment that includes a liquid connection end that has been coated with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) on at least one portion thereof. The liquid connection end can have a first outer diameter that is configured to be connected to a sample source to receive a sample liquid for ionization therefrom. The emitter body can further comprise an ionization discharge segment that is fluidly connected to the fluid conduit segment. The ionization discharge segment can have an ionization discharge end that is coated with a conductive material on at least one portion thereof and configured to have a second outer diameter that allows ionization of the liquid sample.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrospray ionization emitter comprising:
an emitter body comprising fused silica, the emitter body comprising:
a fluid conduit segment having a liquid connection end, the liquid connection end being coated with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) on at least one portion thereof and having a first outer diameter configured for connecting to a sample source and receiving a sample liquid for ionization therefrom; and
an ionization discharge segment fluidly connected to the fluid conduit segment, the ionization discharge segment having an ionization discharge end, the ionization discharge end being coated with a conductive material on at least one portion thereof and having a second outer diameter configured to allow ionization of the liquid sample, wherein the second outer diameter is smaller than the first outer diameter.

2. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit segment comprises a reinforcement coating on the at least one portion thereof, the reinforcement coating being configured to facilitate coating of the at least one portion of the fluid conduit segment with PEEK.

3. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement coating comprises polyimide.

4. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 1 , wherein the ionization discharge end is configured to allow electrostatic field effect.

5. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 1 , wherein the ionization discharge end comprises a pretreated surface that is configured to improve coating of the ionization discharge end with the conductive material.

6. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 5 , wherein the ionization discharge end is subjected to ion bombardment by at least one of Argon, Oxygen, or Neon ions to form the pretreated surface.

7. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 1 , wherein the emitter body includes at least one of a permanently non-deformable and a deformable mechanical connection that fluidly couples the fluid conduit segment and the ionization discharge segment.

8. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 7 , wherein the mechanical connection is established using at least one of a clamp or a ferrule.

9. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 8 , wherein a position of the at least one clamp and ferrule can be adjusted prior to permanently forming the mechanical connection to ensure accurate positioning of the ionization discharge end within an ionization chamber.

10. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 1 , wherein the emitter body includes an electrical insulating material on at least a portion of the fluid conduit segment to allow for handling of the emitter by a user.

11. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 1 , wherein the emitter body includes locating ring to ensure accurate placement within an ion source housing and if present within a nebulizing gas nozzle.

12. The electrospray ionization emitter of claim 1 , further comprising a deformable O-ring to provide nebulizing gas seal for pneumatically assisted electrospray operation.

13. A method for manufacturing an electrospray ionization emitter, the method comprising:
connecting a fluid conduit segment, having a liquid connection end, to an ionization discharge segment, having an ionization discharge end, to form a body for the emitter, the emitter body comprising fused silica;
coating the liquid connection end with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) on at least one portion thereof to form a first outer diameter at the liquid connection end that allows the liquid connection end to be connected to a sample source to receive a sample liquid for ionization therefrom; and
coating the ionization discharge end of the ionization discharge segment with a conductive material on at least one portion thereof, the ionization discharge end having a second outer diameter configured to allow ionization of the liquid sample.

14. The manufacturing method of claim 13 , further comprising coating the fluid conduit segment with a reinforcement coating on the at least one portion thereof, the reinforcement coating being configured to facilitate coating of the at least one portion of the fluid conduit segment with PEEK.

15. The manufacturing method of claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement coating comprises polyimide.

16. The manufacturing method of claim 13 , further comprising forming the ionization discharge end to allow electrostatic field effect.

17. The manufacturing method of claim 13 , further comprising pretreating a surface of the ionization in order to improve coating of the ionization discharge end with the conductive material.

18. The manufacturing method of claim 17 , further comprising pretreating the ionization discharge end by subjecting the ionization discharge end to ion bombardment by at least one of Argon, Oxygen, or Neon ions to form the pretreated surface.

19. The manufacturing method of claim 13 , further comprising permanently forming a mechanical connection between the fluid conduit segment and the ionization discharge segment.

20. The manufacturing method of claim 19 , wherein the mechanical connection between the fluid conduit segment and the ionization discharge segment comprises using at least one of a clamp or a ferrule.

21. The manufacturing method of claim 20 , further comprising adjusting the position of the mechanical connection prior to permanently forming the mechanical connection to ensure accurate placement of the emitter discharge segment within an ionization chamber.

22. The manufacturing method of claim 13 , further comprising insulating at least a portion of the fluid conduit segment with an electrical insulating material to allow for handling of the emitter by a user.

23. The manufacturing method of claim 13 , further comprising locating ring to ensure accurate placement within an ion source housing and if present within a nebulizing gas nozzle.

24. The manufacturing method of claim 13 , further comprising a deformable O-ring to provide nebulizing gas seal for pneumatically assisted electrospray operation.

Assignees

• Dh Technologies Dev Pte Ltd
• Trajan Scient Australia Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Corr John J
• Covey Thomas
• Kovarik Peter
• Bailey Michael
• Barnett Brett

Classifications

• B05B5/03 Primary

  characterised by the use of gas {, e.g. electrostatically assisted pneumatic spraying (B05B5/04, B05B5/043, B05B5/047 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N30/7266

  by electric field, e.g. electrospray · CPC title

• H01J49/165

  Electrospray ionisation · CPC title

• H01J49/167

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

• G01N2030/027

  Liquid chromatography · CPC title