Abstract: A gas production and utilization system includes an ionic liquid having an electrochemical window and engineered to produce a specific gas. A power supply is configured to apply a voltage potential across electrodes disposed in the ionic liquid at a level higher than the electrochemical window of the ionic liquid to decompose the ionic liquid. The resultant gas is delivered to a pressure vessel and may be utilized in a variety of different ways.

Abstract: An ionic liquid membrane provides both vacuum sealing and ion transport for a mass spectrometer. Ion transport is necessary to take advantage of modern Electrospray Ionization (ESI) and Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI) methods. Combining vacuum sealing for the mass spectrometer with ion transport into the mass spectrometer reduces, and can eliminate, the need for multiple differential pumping stages significantly reducing size, weight and power requirements.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved spacecraft thruster, either Hall effect or ion effect, using gaseous propellant converted from solid iodine. A heated tank contains iodine crystals, which tank connects to a thrust chamber by a feed tube. A filter is mounted at the input end of the feed tube, proximate the tank, which filter is warmed by a heat control. A mass flow controller is mounted in the feed tube between the tank and the chamber and is heated by a temperature controller, such controller having a shut-off valve and means to control the flow rate of gaseous propellant to the thruster chamber.