6533b824fe1ef96bd1280a25

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Nano-graphite cold cathodes for electric solar wind sail

Hannu KoivistoAnton S. OrekhovAntti NuottajärviAntti NuottajärviOlli TarvainenVictor I. KleshchJ. KauppinenElena A. SmolnikovaTaneli KalvasPekka JanhunenAlexander N. ObraztsovAlexander N. Obraztsov

subject

nanographite filmsMaterials scienceta114ta221Analytical chemistrychemistry.chemical_elementsolar wind thruster systemGeneral ChemistryCathodelaw.inventionField electron emissionchemistrylawGeneral Materials ScienceElectric sailDirect-current dischargeCrystalliteGraphiteComposite materialCarbonElectron gun

description

The nanographite (NG) films consisting of tiny graphite crystallites (nanowalls) are produced by carbon condensation from methane–hydrogen gas mixture activated by a direct current discharge. High aspect ratio and structural features of the NG crystallites provides efficient field electron emission (FE). Applicability and performance of the NG films in an electron gun (E-gun) of a solar wind thruster system with an electric sail (E-sail) is tested. The long-term tests are demonstrated suitability of E-gun assembly with the NG cathodes for the real space missions. The results of the tests are analyzed and physical mechanisms of the cathode aging and practical methods for improvement performance of the E-gun are proposed.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-01-01Carbon
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2014.09.038