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Carbon Nanotube Based Electron Field Emission Cathodes for Traveling Wave Tubes

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Air Force 		Award ID:
72736 		Program Year/Program:
2005 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
F051-001-2962 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Xintek, Inc.
7020 KIT CREEK RD STE 200 RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC 27709-0001
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2005
Title: Carbon Nanotube Based Electron Field Emission Cathodes for Traveling Wave Tubes
Agency / Branch: DOD / USAF
Contract: FA9451-05-M-0185
Award Amount: $98,989.00
 

Abstract:

The conventional thermionic cathodes used in traveling wave tubes (TWTs) suffer from many technical limitations including limited current density, poor energy efficiency, difficulty of control, and lack of miniaturization. Xintek, Inc. has developed proprietary technologies for fabrication of high performance field emission cold cathodes based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Our CNT cathodes tested at Air Force have shown high emission current density (up to 75 A/cm2), excellent emission stability, and high pulsation rate (>100 KHz). They have great potential to replace the thermionic cathodes and provide enhanced TWT performances. In this Phase I project we will: a) study and refine the performance of our CNT cathodes to generate current densities of 1-10 A/cm2, the typical performance of thermionic cathodes used in TWTs; b) collaborate with the Beverly Microwave Division (BMD) of Communications & Power Industries (CPI) to investigate the performances of our CNT cathodes in practical TWT environments and predict current density of our cathodes in real TWT devices. In phase II we will: a) integrate our CNT cathodes into actual TWTs and optimize the cathode design to enhance their efficiency, reliability and current density; b) prepare a commercialization roadmap to market the technologies.

Principal Investigator:

Bo Gao
Senior Scientist
9194231832
bgao@xintek.com

Business Contact:

Shan Bai
CEO
9193139638
sbai@xintek.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

XINTEK, INC.
P.O. Box 13788, 7020 Kit Creek Road, Suite 280 RTP, NC 27709

EIN/Tax ID: 582580010
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No