Open AccessResearch on intense pulsed emission of carbon nanotube cathode
Author(s) -
Qingliang Liao,
Yue Zhang,
Liansheng Xia,
Yunhua Huang,
Qi Jun-Jie,
Gao Zuo-ning,
Huang Zhang
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.56.5335
Subject(s) - cathode , materials science , carbon nanotube , field electron emission , diode , coating , cold cathode , hot cathode , optoelectronics , nanotube , current density , nanotechnology , electron , electrical engineering , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics
Two different carbon nanotube (CNT) cathodes have been made by using screen-printing and also by coating. Pulse emission properties of the two cathodes were studied, and the cathode's surface morphology was characterized. Research results show that the CNT cathode is capable of generating pulsed beams of a few kilo-amperes. The pulsed field emission properties of the cathode were tested in a diode structure powered by a high-voltage generator(under conditions of 2×10-3 Pa, 100ns, 1.64MV). The results reveal that the emission current of the cathode made by coating can attain 5.11 kA, and the highest emission current density is 260 A/cm2. The stability of cathode made by screen-printing is better than that made by coating. The pulsed emission mechanism of carbon nanotubes is shown to be explosive electron emission. This carbon nanotube cathode appears to be suitable for high-power microwave device applications.