Thermionic emission device and method for making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021217572-A1
Application number	US-202017067734-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2020
Priority date	Jan 15, 2020
Publication date	Jul 15, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thermionic emission device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a single carbon nanotube, an insulating layer and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is located on a first surface of the insulating layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are located on a second surface of the insulating layer and spaced apart from each other. The carbon nanotube comprises a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a middle portion located between the first end and the second end. The first end of the carbon nanotube is electrically connected to the first electrode, and the second end of the carbon nanotube is electrically connected to the second electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A thermionic emission device comprising:
an insulating layer comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a gate electrode located on the first surface of the insulating layer; a first electrode and a second electrode located on the second surface of the insulating layer and spaced apart from each other; and a single carbon nanotube comprising a first end, a second end opposite with the first end, and a middle portion located between the first end and the second end; wherein the first end of the single carbon nanotube is electrically connected with the first electrode, and the second end of the carbon nanotube is electrically connected with the second electrode, and the carbon nanotube is suspend above the insulating layer from the first electrode and the second electrode.

2 . The thermionic emission device of claim 1 , wherein the middle portion of the carbon nanotube comprises defects.

3 . The thermionic emission device of claim 2 , wherein the middle portion of the carbon nanotube comprises a seven-membered ring or an eight-membered ring.

4 . The thermionic emission device of claim 1 , wherein the single carbon nanotube is a single-wall carbon nanotube or a double-wall carbon nanotube.

5 . The thermionic emission device of claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer comprises a through hole or a blind hole.

6 . The thermionic emission device of claim 5 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively located on both sides of the hole of the insulating layer.

7 . The thermionic emission device of claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer comprises a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, and the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are spaced apart from each other and located on a surface of the gate electrode.

8 . The thermionic emission device of claim 7 , wherein the first electrode is located on a surface of the first insulating layer, and the second electrode is located on a surface of the second insulating layer.

9 . The thermionic emission device of claim 1 , wherein a low work function layer is located on a surface of the carbon nanotube.

10 . A thermionic emission device comprising:
an insulating layer comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a gate electrode located on the first surface of the insulating layer; a single carbon nanotube located on the second surface of the insulating layer and comprising a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a middle portion located between the first end and the second end; and a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode is located on and electrically connected to the first end of the carbon nanotube, and the second electrode is located on and electrically connected to the second end of the carbon nanotube.

11 . The thermionic emission device of claim 10 , wherein the middle portion of the carbon nanotube comprises defects.

12 . The thermionic emission device of claim 11 , wherein the middle portion of the carbon nanotube comprises a seven-membered ring or an eight-membered ring.

13 . The thermionic emission device of claim 10 , wherein the single carbon nanotube is a single-wall carbon nanotube or a double-wall carbon nanotube.

14 . The thermionic emission device of claim 10 , wherein the insulating layer comprises a through hole or a blind hole.

15 . The thermionic emission device of claim 10 , wherein the insulating layer comprises a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, and the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are spaced apart from each other.

16 . The thermionic emission device of claim 10 , wherein a low work function layer is located on a surface of the carbon nanotube.

Assignees

• Univ Tsinghua
• Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yang Xin-He
• Liu Peng
• Jiang Kai-Li
• Fan Shou-Shan

Classifications

• H01J1/14 Primary

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• H01J1/46

  Control electrodes, e.g. grid (for igniting arrangements H01J7/30); Auxiliary electrodes (auxiliary anodes for maintaining a discharge H01J1/36) · CPC title

• H01J3/024 Primary

  Electron guns using thermionic emission of cathode heated by electron or ion bombardment or by irradiation by other energetic beams, e.g. by laser · CPC title

• H01J3/027

  Construction of the gun or parts thereof (H01J3/021 - H01J3/025, H01J3/026 and H01J3/028 take precedence) · CPC title

• B82Y30/00

  Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites · CPC title