Fabrication of nano-capillary emitter arrays for ionic liquid electrospray thrusters

Abstract In this study, we fabricated nano-capillary emitter arrays for stable ion emission of ionic liquid electrospray thrusters, employing the fabrication field or gated nano electron sources. A was successfully with a 100–300 nm capillary diameter, which prevented leakage by significantly increasing fluidic impedance compared to previously proposed emitter. An experiment conducted 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide as propellant. Ion started at low voltage 61 V owing small gap approximately 1 ? m between and extractor electrode. The maximum current density 43 mA cm ?2 on positive side ?13 negative without liquid, more than 100 times higher that conventional thrusters. Moreover, obtained continuous intercepted extractor.