MAE Seminar

Multiplexed Electrosprays: Principles and Applications

May 13, 2011

Alessandro Gomez

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Yale University

The cone-jet electrospray has revolutionized the field of mass spectrometry but, despite the unique ability of this device to produce quasi-monodispersed particles in a phenomenal size range, it has not been applied to other fields. The low flow rate at which the spray is dispersed is primary reason for the lack of widespread use. Compact multiplexing, that is, with a high number of sources per unit area, is indispensable for dramatically increasing the throughput and reducing the cost per electrospray source. We recently demonstrated successful operations of multiplexed electrospray systems with an unprecedented packing density of up to 11,547 sources/cm² using microfabrication. In this seminar, I will review fluid mechanical and electrostatic criteria for successful multiplexing and describe some diverse applications in which we have successfully tested this device, including: polymer particle synthesis for controlled drug delivery, microchip cooling and electric propulsion.

Speaker’s biographical sketch: Professor Gomez received a Laurea in Ingegneria Aeronautica from University of Naples (Italy) in 1980, and a Masters and Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University in 1982 and 1986, respectively. After a postdoctoral and lectureship experience in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Yale, he joined the Faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1989, where he raised through the ranks to his current position as professor. His research interests focus on fundamentals of combustion and of electrostatic spray processes with applications. Coauthor of more than 90 articles in the peer-reviewed literature, he has been the recipient of a NSF Young Investigator Award, the Whitby Award from the American Association for Aerosol Research and awards from the Fulbright Foundation, the Von Karman Institute of Fluid Mechanics, ATA Fiat Research Center, and Aeritalia. He is Associate Editor of Combustion Science and Technology and Director of the Yale Center for Combustion Studies. For further details see http://www.eng.yale.edu/gomez-lab/