FANCEE - Fundamentals and Applications of Nano-Carbon Electron Emitters

Development of efficient electron sources is crucial for a wide range of applications, including integrated vacuum microelectronics, MEMS, bright flat panel displays, energy conversion devices, and compact microwave amplifiers. In the search for new cathodes capable to produce a strong electron flux at low energy consumption, carbon materials possessing extraordinary field emission properties have attracted much attention. Control of the morphology and electron properties of nanocarbon species opens tremendous opportunities in the development of advanced electron sources.

In the framework of the FANCEE Programme we will combine advanced materials synthesis, state of the art electron microscopy, and a range of characterization techniques to develop fundamentals and applications of nanocarbon materials for electron emission. The research objectives of FANCEE are:

1) to reveal fundamental mechanisms of the field, thermionic, and laser assisted electron emission from nanostructured carbon materials,

2) to establish the relationship between structural and emission properties and create nanocarbon materials that enable enhanced emission,

3) to optimize the material properties and create advanced carbon cathodes for specific applications including cathodoluminescent light sources, X-ray tubes, and electron guns for vacuum electronic devices.

We anticipate that theoretical and experimental results of FANCEE will provide new insights in the fundamental properties and application potential of nanocarbon materials in electronics. New functionalities arising from the nanostructuring of carbon cathodes will enable the development of compact sources of ultra-dense electron bunches of ultrashort duration.

FANCEE will reinforce the existing cooperation and create new cooperation links between the Partners through a coordinated joint program in the fabrication, investigation, and applications of nanocarbon materials.