High transmission 3D printed flex-PCB-based ion funnel.
In this study a novel fabrication method for a radio frequency (RF) ion funnel is presented. RF ion funnels are important devices for focusing ion clouds at low vacuum conditions for mass spectrometry or deposition-related applications. Typically, ion funnels are constructed of stainless steel plate ring electrodes with a decreasing diameter where RF and direct current potentials are applied to the electrodes to focus the ion cloud. The presented novel design is based on a flexible circuit board that serves both as the signal distribution circuit and as the electrodes of the ion funnel. The flexible circuit board is rolled into a 3D printed scaffold to create a funnel shape with ring electrodes formed by the copper electrodes of the flexible circuit board. The design is characterized in direct comparison with a conventional steel-plate electrode design. The discussed results show that the new funnel has similar performance to the conventionally designed funnel despite much lower manufacturing costs.
Mechanical Engineering Department, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States.
Eric Miguel
EM
Tridas
Electrical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, United States.
Christopher
C
Allemang
Mechanical Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten, Weingarten, 88250, Germany.
Fabian
F
Mast
N/A, Elion Systems, Austin, TX, United States.
J Mark
JM
Anthony
Electrical Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave., ENB118, Tampa, FL, 33620, United States.
Rudiger
R
Schlaf
3D printing; electrospray; ion funnel; jet disrupter; printed circuit board