Electrodes based on the arrays of oriented carbon

nanotubes for electronic and electrochemical

applications.

Despite the development of semi-conductor electronics,

electro vacuum devices have their own quite extensive niche
in various areas of applied industrial electronics
(SHF/microwaves: klystrons, magnetrons, amplitrons,
running-wave tubes are meant for operating in radar
stations, in satellite stations, in linear accelerators, in TV
transmitting devices), in the household devices (light bulbs
etc.), in research and medical devices (x-ray tubes), in
military technologies etc.
The work principle of electrovacuum devices is based
on the operating of an electron flow, moving from one
electrode to another under the influence of the electric field.
Each device has an electrode (cathode), which surface emits
an electron flow in the vacuum. The cathode lifetime,
efficiency, reliability and other characteristics directly
influence the characteristics of an entire electrovacuum
device in whole, its effectiveness, reliability and service life
period. The uses focused perpendicularly to the substrate of
nanotubes as an electrode is the development of fabrication
method of field-emission cathode which is proved by
research results.
The other main usage of arrays of focused carbon
nanotubes is electrochemical applications in which they play
a role of one of the electrodes in electrochemical energy
storage systems. The electrochemical energy storage
system represents a class of devices for accumulation -
energy allocation which uses various electrolytes and
electrodes. There are three basic directions of
electrochemical devices application:
- Transformation and storage of information (chemotronic
devices);
- Accumulation of electricl energy (electrolytic capacitors);
- Transformation of chemical energy in electrical (chemical
sources of a current).
Chemotronic devices enable to carry out most effectively all
the complex of the information transformations in the field of
low and ultralow frequencies with the minimum energy
consumption. Electrolytic capacitors possess the greatest
specific capacities in comparison with their functional
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counterparts. Chemical sources of a current having high
specific power performances remain one of the basic energy
sources for objects with self-contained supply.
It is obvious that properties of the electrochemical
energy storage devices depend mostly on characteristics of
electrodes applied in them, on their design and material
composition.
The need of economics for more effective, simple and
reliable electrochemical energy storage systems with long
operation times, short charging times and high power rates
is beyond any doubt.

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There is a proposition of manufacturing cathodes from
arrays of oriented carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes can
be raised perpendicularly to the substrate surfaces; they can
have a diverse structure. Such a substrate, with a layer of
nanotubes can serve as the cathode both in the
electrovacuum device, and as one of electrodes in the
electrochemical device.
For electronic and electrochemical applications it is
necessary to produce electrodes with a various structure.
The change of the electrode structure, the morphology of
carbon nanotubes, their diameter and length, the
introduction of dopant atoms and the faults is performed by
the alteration of technological parameters at work of the
chemical reactor in a uniform workflow, i.e. the same reactor
is required for the manufacturing of cathodes both for
electronic and electrochemical applications.
The offered technology lets conduct the films synthesis
of multilayered oriented carbon nanotubes in the thickness
from 1 micrometer to 5 mm and more, the diameter of
nanotubes is from 5 nanometers to 70 nanometers, the
introduction possibility of the dopant nitrogen atoms of in
layers of nanotubes (up to ~3 %).
The basic efforts at project realization will be directed
on the designing and equipment manufacturing - a conveyor
line for the continuous production of electrodes on the basis
of the arrays of oriented carbon nanotubes with a flexible
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 architecture, allowing to change the synthesis parameters in
considerable limits and in that way to be easily adjusted to
certain production needs.
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The usage of an electrode for the electron emission into

the vacuum from oriented carbon nanotubes leads to the
achievement of some advantages:
1. There is no need to warm up a cathode; the electron
emission is produced thanks to the electric-field strength
near the edge of a nanotube, what provides a considerable
power saving compared to thermocathodes;
2. Low threshold limit values for the field strength (~ 0.5
In/micron), necessary for the occurrence of the emission
current, i.e. the low power consumption of the final device;
3. The possibility of work of an electrode at high load
currents because of the mechanical durability and a great
number of nanotubes;
4. The comparatively simple manufacturing techniques of an
electrode and the simplicity of the further work with it (the
electrode is steady in the air, mechanically durable, it is easy
to handle at the final assembling stage);
5. The possibility of miniaturization of the final device at the
expense of the cathode miniaturization. Actually one
nanotube can serve as an emitting electrode.

The usage of arrays of oriented carbon nanotubes on

conducting substrates as an electrode in electrochemical
energy storage systems leads to the achievement of
following benefits:

1. It provides the high area of interaction of an

electrode with an electrolyte which leads to the
achievement of a high capacity of an electrode;
2. It provides the parallel current collecting from all
nanotubes of an electrode simultaneously, which
leads to a considerable reduction of the charging
time of an electrode, and with the work possibility at
high return currents;
3. The mechanical durability of nanotubes will provide
a long lifecycle of an electrode without essential
changes of characteristics.

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 4. The introduction of the faults in the structure of
carbon nanotubes in form of dopant atoms in the
formation moment opens a way for their chemical
modification and the further sedimentation on the
surface of carbon nanotubes in diverse materials. It
will allow to expand the applications of such
electrodes in the area of "pseudo-capacitors" and
electrochemical capacitors with the «double electric
layer» in which the energy accumulation is
conducted on the interface of electrolyte-electrode.
5. A comparatively simple manufacturing technique of
an electrode and the simplicity of the further work
with it. (the electrode is strong on air, mechanically
durable, and it is easy to handle at the final
assemblage);

The manufacturing equipment of electrodes for various

electrovacuum and electrochemical devices. The end-
product is the automatic conveyor line for the production of
arrays of oriented carbon nanotubes of a necessary structure
and morphology.
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The patent of the Russian Federation № 2364569 «The way

of carbon nanotubes production»
December, 2007 г.
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There is a laboratory prototype of the chemical reactor on

which electrode prototypes are produced, there are also
electrode testing rigs.
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The tests were independently conducted.

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START 2007 «The carbon nanotubes organization of

production »
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The basic project expenses are the patenting and the

marketing researches, the designing and manufacturing of a
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conveyor installation for the synthesis of oriented carbon
nanotubes on substrates which then will be used as
cathodes.