Abstract: A composite electrode structure and methods of making and using thereof are disclosed. The structure has a metal substrate with a metal oxide layer. The average thickness of the metal oxide layer is less than 150 nm, and comprises at least a first metal and a second metal, wherein the first metal and the second metal are different elements. A plurality of carbon nanotubes is disposed on a first surface of the metal oxide layer. At least a portion of the carbon nanotubes are disposed such that one end of the carbon nanotube is positioned at least 5 nm below the surface of the metal oxide layer.

Abstract: Provided herein is a rechargeable power source that can be quickly charged and use for charging mobile and cordless devices. The power source includes an ultracapacitor which comprises a composite structure including carbon nanotubes attached to an oxide layer.

Abstract: An electron gun, an electron source for an electron gun, an extractor for an electron gun, and a respective method for producing the electron gun, the electron source and the extractor are disclosed. Embodiments provide an electron source utilizing a carbon nanotube (CNT) bonded to a substrate for increased stability, reliability, and durability. An extractor with an aperture in a conductive material is used to extract electrons from the electron source, where the aperture may substantially align with the CNT of the electron source when the extractor and electron source are mated to form the electron gun. The electron source and extractor may have alignment features for aligning the electron source and the extractor, thereby bringing the aperture and CNT into substantial alignment when assembled. The alignment features may provide and maintain this alignment during operation to improve the field emission characteristics and overall system stability of the electron gun.

Abstract: An electron gun, an electron source for an electron gun, an extractor for an electron gun, and a respective method for producing the electron gun, the electron source and the extractor are disclosed. Embodiments provide an electron source utilizing a carbon nanotube (CNT) bonded to a substrate for increased stability, reliability, and durability. An extractor with an aperture in a conductive material is used to extract electrons from the electron source, where the aperture may substantially align with the CNT of the electron source when the extractor and electron source are mated to form the electron gun. The electron source and extractor may have alignment features for aligning the electron source and the extractor, thereby bringing the aperture and CNT into substantial alignment when assembled. The alignment features may provide and maintain this alignment during operation to improve the field emission characteristics and overall system stability of the electron gun.

Abstract: An electron gun, an electron source for an electron gun, an extractor for an electron gun, and a respective method for producing the electron gun, the electron source and the extractor are disclosed. Embodiments provide an electron source utilizing a carbon nanotube (CNT) bonded to a substrate for increased stability, reliability, and durability. An extractor with an aperture in a conductive material is used to extract electrons from the electron source, where the aperture may substantially align with the CNT of the electron source when the extractor and electron source are mated to form the electron gun. The electron source and extractor may have alignment features for aligning the electron source and the extractor, thereby bringing the aperture and CNT into substantial alignment when assembled. The alignment features may provide and maintain this alignment during operation to improve the field emission characteristics and overall system stability of the electron gun.

Abstract: A method of producing an electron source, a carbon nanotube (CNT) electron source, and a method of field emission using an electron source are disclosed. Embodiments provide convenient and effective mechanisms for improving thermal and mechanical performance of CNT electron sources, in one example, by heating a polymer-based matrix (e.g., PDMS) beyond its curing point until the polymer decomposes to form a cross linked and rigid matrix comprising silicon dioxide (SiO2). Additionally, embodiments provide convenient, effective and cost-efficient mechanisms for producing large-scale electron sources with controlled and nearly uniform CNT densities by spin coating a CNT/PDMS solution onto a substrate comprising an electrode, where an electric field is used to align the CNTs while the matrix is heated to convert the PDMS-based matrix to an SiO2-based matrix to secure the CNTs with respect to one another and with respect to the substrate.

Abstract: A CNT electron source, a method of manufacturing a CNT electron source, and a solar cell utilizing a CNT patterned sculptured substrate are disclosed. Embodiments utilize a metal substrate which enables CNTs to be grown directly from the substrate. An inhibitor may be applied to the metal substrate to inhibit growth of CNTs from the metal substrate. The inhibitor may be precisely applied to the metal substrate in any pattern, thereby enabling the positioning of the CNT groupings to be more precisely controlled. The surface roughness of the metal substrate may be varied to control the density of the CNTs within each CNT grouping. Further, an absorber layer and an acceptor layer may be applied to the CNT electron source to form a solar cell, where a voltage potential may be generated between the acceptor layer and the metal substrate in response to sunlight exposure.

Abstract: An electron gun, an electron source for an electron gun, an extractor for an electron gun, and a respective method for producing the electron gun, the electron source and the extractor are disclosed. Embodiments provide an electron source utilizing a carbon nanotube (CNT) bonded to a substrate for increased stability, reliability, and durability. An extractor with an aperture in a conductive material is used to extract electrons from the electron source, where the aperture may substantially align with the CNT of the electron source when the extractor and electron source are mated to form the electron gun. The electron source and extractor may have alignment features for aligning the electron source and the extractor, thereby bringing the aperture and CNT into substantial alignment when assembled. The alignment features may provide and maintain this alignment during operation to improve the field emission characteristics and overall system stability of the electron gun.

Abstract: A method provides a sharpened Multi-Walled Carbon NanoTube Scanning Probe (MWCNT-SP) for a Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The MWCNT-SP is attached to a cantilever and help in the FMA. The tip of the MWCNT-SP is positioned in contact with a conducting substrate, and a voltage source is connected to the MWCNT-SP and to the substrate. The outer layers of the MWCNT-SP become hot, and the outermost carbon layers burns off, thereby creating a point on the MWCNT-SP.