Two-Dimensional Fin-Shaped Carbon Nanotube Field Emission Structure with High Current Density Capability

A vacuum electron device requires a high-performance electron source that provides high current and current density. A carbon nanotube (CNT) field emission cold cathode is the optimal choice. To achieve its higher emission current capacity, its macroscale and microscale structures should be combined. Here, a two-dimensional fin-shaped CNT field emission structure is proposed, integrating a macroscale CNT fin with billions of nanoscale nanotubes. The fin contributes two-dimensional heat dissipation paths, and the nanotubes provide a high field enhancement factor, both of which enhance the high-current field emission characteristics. A model combining macro- and microstructures was simulated to optimize the structure and fin-shaped array parameters. The calculation of the field enhancement factor of the compound structure is proposed. It was also determined that the fin-shaped array configuration can be densely arranged without field screen effects, thereby enhancing the emission area efficiency. The fin-shaped CNT emitter and array emitters with different parameters were fabricated by laser ablation, which demonstrated superior field emission characteristics. A 16.55 mA pulsing emission current, 1103.33 A/cm2 current density, and 6.13% current fluctuation were achieved in a single fin-shaped CNT emitter. An 87.29 mA pulsing emission current, 0.349 A/cm2 current density, and 1.9% current fluctuation were achieved in a fin-shaped CNT array. The results demonstrate that the high-current field emission electron source can be realized in a well-designed emission structure that bridges the nanoscale emitter and macroscale structure.