On the current emitted by Taylor cone-jets of electrolytes in vacuo: Implications for liquid metal ion sources

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Abstract
Approximate scaling laws for the charge and size of the drops ejected from the apex of Taylor cones run in the cone-jet mode (electrospray) are now available for highly conductingelectrolytes (10 −4 S/m <K<1 S/m ) electrosprayed at atmospheric pressure. In order to confirm that such laws do also apply to Taylor cones in vacuo, the current versus liquid flow rate curves I(Q) characteristic of a given liquid are investigated both in vacuum and in atmospheric pressure air. Although the sprays of drops differ profoundly in both cases, the two corresponding I(Q) curves are nearly identical for relatively involatile liquids such as tributyl phosphate. A discussion on the possible relation between the behavior of Taylor cones of electrolytes of organic liquids and liquid metalion sources (K∼10 6 S/m ) is attempted, yielding insights on the role of space charge. However, the electrical conductivity variable which dominates the behavior of liquid cones of electrolytes appears to be irrelevant in liquid metals.