Apparatus, methods, and fluid compositions for electrostatically-driven solvent ejection or particle formation

摘要

A method comprises introducing a fluid composition into one or more electrically insulating emitters, and applying voltage to the fluid to cause ejection of the solvent from the fluid after it exits the emitter. The fluid composition comprises first material having a dielectric constant greater than ~25 and polymer mixed into liquid solvent having a dielectric constant less than ~15, or polymer mixed into solvent having a dielectric constant greater than ~8. Voltage can be applied to the fluid composition via a conductive electrode immersed in the fluid, or positioned outside and adjacent to the emitters. Conductivity of the fluid composition can be less than ~100μS/cm. A composition of matter comprises nanofibers formed by the method.