HALBLEITER-EMITTER FUER IONENQUELLEN SOWIE VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNG ZU SEINER HERSTELLUNG

摘要

A semiconductor ion emitter for a mass spectrometer, comprises an electrode having semiconductor whiskers provided on the conductive surface of a base. A process for manufacturing such semiconductor ion emitter, includes steps of evaporating gold onto a wire having a diameter of about 60 mu m, preheating the coated wire, and supplying a gas containing the semiconductor for growth of the whiskers on the gold plated wire. An apparatus for such process comprises a vacuum vessel for enclosing the wire, means for controllably heating the wire and means for controllably supplying a gas containing the semiconductor into the vacuum vessel.