Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 May 2013
Ionic liquid (IL) ion sources with different emitter tip materials and tip numbers were developed and examined on ion beam characteristics with respect to its ILs wettability. As a result of ion current measurements, the most stable emission current was obtained for the graphite emitter tip and the ion current increased with increase of the tip number. The results indicate that the emitter wettability corresponding to the supplying flow rate and the number of emission site play an important role to stabilize and increase the beam current.