Title :
Hydrogen ion production using carbon nanotube field emitter arrays
Author :
Shaw, Jonathan L. ; Hsu, David S.Y.
Author_Institution :
Naval Res. Lab, Washington
Abstract :
We have used micro-gated carbon nanotube field emitter arrays to produce hydrogen ions via two mechanisms; direct field ionization, and electron impact ionization. The changes in the fabrication process have improved the maximum emission current. The nanotubes are about 20nm in diameter (and so are likely multiwalled), and the gate electrodes are made of Cr. It is concluded that it should be possible to create very brief ion pulses using this method because the electron trajectory is short. Relatively long pulses will allow higher ionization rates. Because the arrays are small and the ion energy distribution is not too large, it should be possible to focus the ion beam to a spot size similar to the area of the array.
Keywords :
carbon nanotubes; electron impact ionisation; field emitter arrays; field ionisation; hydrogen; nanotube devices; C; Cr; direct field ionization; electron impact ionization; electron trajectory; gate electrodes; hydrogen ion production; ion beam focusing; ion energy distribution; ion pulses; microgated carbon nanotube field emitter arrays; size 20 nm; Carbon nanotubes; Chromium; Electrodes; Electron emission; Fabrication; Field emitter arrays; Hydrogen; Impact ionization; Ion beams; Production;
Conference_Titel :
Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference, 2007. IVNC. IEEE 20th International
Conference_Location :
Chicago, IL
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1133-7
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1134-4
DOI :
10.1109/IVNC.2007.4480908