Acquisition of X-ray images by using a CNT cold emitter

Carbon nanotubes (i.e., CNTs) are tubular carbon molecules with properties that make them potentially useful in extremely small scale electronic and mechanical applications. Because of this, CNTs are widely used in many fields such as field emission display (FED), nanoscale sensors, vacuum electronic devices, and so on. In this study, CNTs were applied for an X-ray source. CNTs were grown on the Si-wafer substrate by thermal CVD method and the length of the grown CNTs was about 30–50 μm. The electrical properties of the grown CNT emitter were tested in an X-ray tube, which has triode structure (i.e., a cathode as a CNT emitter, a grid, and an anode). Electron beam focusing characteristics as well as correlations between emission currents and grid mesh structures (or grid mesh voltage) were also studied by using OPERA 3D simulation. The detailed descriptions of the manufactured X-ray triode were reported and some preliminary X-ray images were presented.