Delivery of micro- and nanoparticles from solutions into a linear quadrupole trap using the paper spray method.

In this paper, we develop and describe a technology for delivering micro- and nanoparticles from solutions into a linear quadrupole Paul trap using the paper spray method. The developed technology is based on electrospraying of colloids with the particles from paper cartridges into the electrodynamic trap. The proposed method has been experimentally verified using a colloid solution of AgInS₂/ZnS quantum dots in toluene. It has been shown that electrospraying of the solution from a paper cartridge is observed when applying a DC voltage in the range of 5-12 kV. Stable retention of the delivered particles in the trap is observed when applying an AC voltage with a frequency of 500 Hz and an amplitude of 1000 V on the power trap electrodes and DC voltage 60-290 V on the end-cap electrode. The features of the developed technology are described in detail.