Is it possible to put multiple accelerator grids in an ion engine?

[RocketAstro]

Is it possible to put multiple accelerator grid in ion engine instead of one? So we will get higher exhaust velocity and benefit for us right? or is there any disadvantages?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Why two small ones instead of one bigger one?

 

[PazHeping]

Is it possible to put multiple accelerator grid in ion engine instead of one? So we will get higher exhaust velocity and benefit for us right? or is there any disadvantages?

Here is a paper from NASA that analyzed ion wind propulsion.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20100000021
TLDR; not really.
if you are talking about a xenon ion engine then no. The grid disassociates the ion from the ‘circuit’ so it can shoot out the nozzle. I believe you would have to re energize the particle to even make a second accelerator grid work. So unfortunate no.

 

[mfb]

See it from the other direction: What's the point of adding grids between the ion source and the last grid? Just remove them, you remove obstacles for the ions and simplify the engine.

 

[Klystron]

Old style hot-cathode vacuum tubes and cathode ray tubes (CRT) often added additional grids between the anode and cathodes for various purposes. Even grids that increased anode emissions often inhibited flow; i.e., increased travel time between anodes and cathodes.

While not an ion reaction engine, vacuum tube grid technology has extensive documentation and possible application.

 

[Vanadium 50]

It's probably worth pointing out that the OP posted and left.