To communicate, spacecraft and satellites rely on microwave devices, which at present are based on relatively inefficient thermionic electron sources that require heating and cannot be switched on instantaneously. Here we describe a microwave diode that uses a cold-cathode electron source consisting of carbon nanotubes and that operates at high frequency and at high current densities. Because it weighs little, responds instantaneously and has no need of heating, this miniaturized electron source should prove valuable for microwave devices used in telecommunications.
Most long-range telecommunication systems are based upon microwave links. The transmitters use microwave amplifiers which in the very near future will be required to work at up to 30-100 GHz with output power in the region of a few tens of watts. Carbon nanotubes ͑CNTs͒, which exhibit extraordinary field emission properties because of their high electrical conductivity, ideal high aspect ratio whisker-like shape for geometrical field enhancement, and remarkable thermal stability, can be used as the emitter in such applications. This article will describe the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition growth of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, and how well controlled arrays of such structures can be grown. We will also describe how high current densities of ϳ1 A/cm 2 , under direct current and 1.5 GHz direct modulation, can be obtained from CNT cathodes. These CNT cold cathodes offer considerable weight and size savings over conventional hot cathodes used in microwave applications ͑e.g., SATCOM, radar͒.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a unique form of carbon filament/fiber in which the graphene walls roll up to form tubes. They can exhibit either metallic-like or semiconductor-like properties. With the graphene walls parallel to the filament axis, nanotubes (single wall metallic-type or multi-wall) exhibit high electrical conductivity at room temperature. This high electrical conductivity allied to their remarkable thermal stability has made CNTs one of the most intensely studied material systems for field emission (FE) applications. In this paper we will describe the growth of multiwall CNTs and their application in a range of field emission based systems including their use in SEM sources, emitters for use in microwave amplifiers and as emitters in field emission based displays (FEDs).
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