| AVS 61st International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Vacuum Technology | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session VT-TuM |
| Session: | Gas Dynamics, Modeling, and Pumping Systems |
| Presenter: | Eric Tridas, University of South Florida |
| Authors: | E. Tridas, University of South Florida R. Schlaf, University of South Florida M. Anthony, Elion Systems |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Electrospray ionization (ESI) is a versatile method for creating gas phase ions from solution while maintaining the native chemical functionality of the solute. Using this method, functional bio- and macromolecular thin films can be produced for use in biosensors, scaffolding for tissue generation, photovoltaics and other emerging fields of research. The Macromolecular Patterning System, designed and constructed at the University of South Florida (USF), utilizes ESI as a material source to create such films. The system is comprised of three differential pumping stages, each containing custom designed electrodes used to define the trajectory of the ions. The focus of this study is on the first of the three stages which contains a radio frequency (RF) ion funnel. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the air flow into this chamber were performed and coupled with simulations calculating the generated electric field. Using the ion trajectory simulation software SIMION, the flight paths of ions within this first chamber were calculated. Experiments were then performed to test the results of the simulations. A “randomization parameter” based on the turbulence kinetic energy of the CFD simulations was used to model the time-varying component of the flow velocity yielding a result that closely matched the system. Variation of electrode voltages in the physical apparatus yielded similar results to those obtained from the simulations. Most significantly, the overall trend and peak values of ion transmission were accurately predicted from the simulations.