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Carbon nanotube photothermionics: Toward laser-pointer-driven cathodes for simple free-electron devices and systems

  • Electron-Emission Materials
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Abstract

Light-induced generation of free electrons is of interest for a wide variety of vacuum electronic devices and systems. The properties of nanomaterials, stemming from their geometry and the strong manifestation of quantum phenomena in them, have opened up new avenues for developing new cathodes and exploring and exploiting electron emission. This article presents the heat trap effect—efficient localized heating of carbon nanotube arrays using light, leading to electron emission through the thermionic mechanism. This process requires unexpectedly modest amounts of optical power—available from sources such as handheld lasers—and dramatically simplifies the electron emitter. Potential applications, including thermionic and thermoelectric conversion for solar-energy harvesting and simple electron-beam systems, are also highlighted.

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Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN-2017-04608, RGPAS-2017-507958, SPG-P 478867), BCFRST/the British Columbia Innovation Council, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, and the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies. This research was conducted, in part, by funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, Quantum Materials and Future Technologies Program. The author also acknowledges CMC Microsystems for the provision of products and services that facilitated this research.

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  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Quantum Matter Institute, The University of British Columbia, Canada

    Alireza Nojeh

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Correspondence to Alireza Nojeh.

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Nojeh, A. Carbon nanotube photothermionics: Toward laser-pointer-driven cathodes for simple free-electron devices and systems. MRS Bulletin 42, 500–504 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2017.139

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2017.139

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