Flexible Field Emitter for X-ray Generation by Implanting CNTs into Nickel Foil.

Bin Sun,Guifu Ding,Yan Wang

doi:10.1186/s11671-016-1598-z

Abstract

This paper reports on a flexible Ni micro wire with CNTs embedded into its surface. By using micromachining technology, for the first time, we could implant nanoscale materials into micro-scale metal substrate at room temperature. Thanks to the effective direct contact and the strong interactions between CNTs and the substrate, field emission current of 1.11 mA (current density of 22.2 mA/cm2) could be achieved from the micro wire. Moreover, the wire shows excellent mechanical properties for large amplitude bending, which is beneficial for geometric designing. To check the practical application of the wire, a simplified X-ray imaging system was set up by modifying a conventional tube. The gray shade that appears on the sensitive film after being exposed to the radiation confirms the X-ray generation.

Highlights

Carbon nanotube (CNT) have attracted considerable interest for use in field emission devices on account of their extraordinaryD mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties [1]
We propose a micromachining method to solve these problems
Ni has been widely used as an adhesion wetting layer for the CNT field emitters due to its high adhesive strength and electrical conductivity [16]

Summary

Open Access

E Abstract L This paper reports on a flexible Ni micro wire with CNTs embedded into its surface. For the first time, we could implant nanoscale materials into micro-scale metal substrate at room. Thanks to the effective direct contact and the strong interactions between CNTs and the substrate, field emission current of 1.11 mA (current density of 22.2 mA/cm2) could be achieved from the micro wire. The wire shows excellent mechanical properties for large amplitude bending, which is beneficial for. To check the practical application of the wire, a simplified X-ray imaging system was set up by modifying a conventional tube. The gray shade that appears on the sensitive film after being exposed to the radiation confirms the X-ray generation

Background

Findings

Methods