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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2017

Alireza Nojeh*
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Quantum Matter Institute, The University of British Columbia, Canada; anojeh@ece.ubc.ca
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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.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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