Open AccessBarium-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube yarns as low-work-function thermionic cathodes
Author(s) -
Xiao Lin,
Peng Liu,
Liang Liu,
Kaili Jiang,
Xiaofeng Feng,
Wei Yang,
Qunqing Li,
Shoushan Fan,
Taihua Zhang
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
applied physics letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.182
H-Index - 442
eISSN - 1077-3118
pISSN - 0003-6951
DOI - 10.1063/1.2909593
Subject(s) - materials science , thermionic emission , work function , barium , nanotube , cathode , carbon nanotube , composite material , barium oxide , oxide , current density , ultimate tensile strength , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , layer (electronics) , chemistry , metallurgy , electron , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Barium-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube yarns were fabricated by drawing and twisting multiwalled carbon nanotube forests through a solution containing barium nitrate. After heat activation under vacuum, the functionalized yarns were enriched in barium oxide due to the high surface-to-volume ratio of the nanotubes. The cathodes exhibited good thermionic properties, with a work function as low as 1.73-2.06 eV and thermionic current density that exceeded 185 mA cm2 in a field of 850 V5 mm at 1317 K. The barium-functionalized yarns had high tensile strength of up to 420 MPa and retained strength of ∼250 MPa after a 2 h activation process. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.
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