title: Microstructured photonic fibers as multichannel electrospray emitters.
abstract: Novel multichannel electrospray emitters are presented that use silica-based microstructured fibers (MSFs) to split the flow allowing efficient desolvation during electrospray. The MSFs investigated in this study possess 30-168 individual fluidic channels (each channel being 5 microm in diameter) that form a 2D emitting array. Multiple flow paths afford stable electrospray at flow rates ranging from the microspray (e.g., 1000 nL/min) to the nanoelectrospray (e.g., 10 nL/min) regime with moderate to negligible flow-induced backpressures. The electrospray stability of highly aqueous solutions (up to 99.9% water with 0.1% acetic acid) is enhanced through modification of the emitting surface with a hydrophobic silylation reagent (chlorotrimethylsilane). Furthermore, by successfully spraying highly concentrated salt solutions, this study demonstrates that multichannel MSF emitters provide enhanced robustness to clogging, leading to increased operational throughput.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors.forename: Shuqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Graham T T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Samuel M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mugo
authors.forename: Dale M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Marecak
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Oleschuk