Liquid metal ion source

<p>A liquid metal ion source (LMIS) is an <a href="/facts/Ion_source/3hP3h1sM">ion source</a> which uses <a href="/facts/Metal/PT8hNX6R">metal</a> that is heated to the liquid state and used to form an <a href="/facts/Electrospray/uAEAkoFJ">electrospray</a> to form <a href="/facts/Ion/3bePpDna">ions</a>. An electrospray <a href="/facts/Taylor_cone/UXjedtQH">Taylor cone</a> is formed by the application of a strong <a href="/facts/Electric_field/tt4MooBs">electric field</a> and <a href="/facts/Ion/3bePpDna">ions</a> are produced by field evaporation at the sharp tip of the cone, which has a high electric field. Ions from a LMIS are used in <a href="/facts/Ion_implantation/PHMokNUf">ion implantation</a> and in <a href="/facts/Focused_ion_beam/olcleUCy">focused ion beam</a> instruments. Typically <a href="/facts/Gallium/EucevDs9">gallium</a> is preferred for its low melting point, low <a href="/facts/Vapor_pressure/whrEr96T">vapor pressure</a>, its relatively unreactive nature, and because the gallium ion is sufficiently heavy for <a href="/facts/Ion_milling_machine/u7dpqyC9">ion milling</a>.
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Liquid metal ion source open-in-new

Liquid metal ion source