FANCEE

Fundamentals and Applications of Nano-Carbon Electron Emitters

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Development of efficient electron sources is crucial for a wide range of applications including integrated vacuum microelectronics, MEMS, bright flat panel displays, energy conversion devices, and compact microwave amplifiers. In the search for new cathodes capable to produce a strong electron flux at low energy consumption, carbon materials possessing extraordinary field emission properties have been attracted a lot of attention. Control of the morphology and electron properties of nanocarbon species opens tremendous opportunities in the development of advanced electron sources.. In the framework of the FANCEE Programme we will combine advanced materials synthesis, state of the art electron microscopy, and a range of characterization techniques to develop fundamentals and applications of the nanocarbon materials for electron emission. The research objectives of the FANCEE are (i) to reveal fundamental mechanisms of the field, thermionic and laser assisted electron emission from the nanostructured carbon materials, (ii) to establish relationship between structural and emission properties and create nanocarbon materials that enable enhanced emission, and (iii) to optimize the material properties and create advanced carbon cathodes for specific applications including cathodoluminescent light sources, X-ray tubes, electron guns for vacuum electronic devices. We anticipate that theoretical and experimental results of FANCEE will provide new insights in the fundamental properties and application potential of nanocarbon materials in electronics. New functionalities arising from the nanostructuring of carbon cathodes will enable development of compact sources of ultra dense electron bunches of ultrashort duration. FANCEE will reinforce the existing and create new cooperation links between the Partners through a coordinated joint programme in fabrication, investigation and applications of nanocarbon materials.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU-funded scientists are exploring nanocarbon electron sources to shed light on glowing materials for use in flat panel displays. Strong electron beams for electronic microscopes and vacuum electronic devices are other possible applications.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Advanced imaging and electronic devices require the development of efficient electron sources. In the search for new cathodes capable of producing a strong electron flux with low energy consumption, carbon materials have attracted a great deal of attention. Due to their extraordinary field emission properties, control of the morphology and electron properties of nanocarbon species should open many exciting opportunities in this direction.

With EU funding of the project 'Fundamentals and applications of nano-carbon electron emitters' (FANCEE), scientists are providing new insights into the fundamental properties and application potential of nanocarbon-based materials. In particular, FANCEE is placing focus on revealing the fundamental mechanisms of thermionic and laser-assisted electron emission of these materials. Establishing a relationship between the structural and electron emission properties should enable scientists to obtain efficient and stable emission sources. This will in turn help create strong electron guns and efficient cathodoluminescent light sources.

Scientists have demonstrated that the nanometric curvature of the diamond needle apex makes it possible to design a new class of high-performance electron guns. The developed chemical vapour deposition technique has enabled the production of large-area thin-film graphene that can be employed for various optoelectronic devices.

With the help of experimental data, FANCEE has determined the field emission characteristics of nanocarbon cathodes with different morphological, composition and structural properties. Thermionic and field emission regimes and their mutual transformations have also been studied for different carbon films.

Except for thermionic emission, scientists have also studied laser-assisted field emission by irradiating graphene-based materials with ultrashort pulses. The study results were used to explain the experimental results obtained from nanographite and carbon nanotube cathodes.

Prototypes of a cathodoluminescent lamp and an X-ray tube have been successfully developed. The on-board electron gun prototype is currently used in a satellite.

FANCEE has produced many reports and organised a number of meetings and workshops to disseminate its results. The project is expected to provide fundamental new insights into the extraordinary field emission properties of nanocarbon structures.