Nanotube based vacuum triode

This Phase I Small Business Research project focuses on the development of patterned low-voltage electron emitters based on self-aligned carbon nanotube materials. We believe that by applying the emission optimization concepts learned during theoptimization of carbon/diamond field emitters by our team, we can improve the carbon nanotube cathodes. Plasma enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition (PEHFCVD) used in conjunction with metallic catalysts will be used as the primary growthtechnique. This technique has been recently used to produce very high quality, self-aligned, high purity, adherent multi-walled nanotube deposits on various substrates. The density and length of nanotubes are also controllable and depend on synthesisconditions. In phase I, we will demonstrate the feasibility of selective deposition of high performance carbon nanotubes field emission cathodes using a layer of patterned catalyst for nanotube growth. In Phase II, we will extend our work to fabricateintegrated vacuum microelectronic triodes. Potential applications of the proposed technology include flat panel displays, novel x-ray sources, high brightness light sources, vacuum microelectronic devices, linear and large area electron sources and novelsensors.