Self-Regenerating Nanotips for Indestructible Low-Power Electric Propulsion Cathodes

Michigan Technological University
posted on 01/03/2012

Electron-emitting cathodes are employed on electric propulsion (EP) thrusters to help space vehicles stay electrically neutral and to sustain the discharge in plasma thrusters. The traditional technology used for electron emission has been the hollow cathode, a gas-fed device that does not scale well to lower power.

To offset these problems, recent research has gone into field emission cathode development such as the Spindt cathode. These emitters rely on geometric enhancement of electric fields near sharp tips, but the tips degrade easily from chemical contamination, ion impacts, and catastrophic arcing.

Suggested Uses

- Flat panel display technologies
- Space-based applications using field-
emission cathodes
- Micropropulsion
- Discharge cathodes and neutralizers in low
to medium power EP thrusters
- Spacecraft neutralization

Advantages

- Not subject to degradation
- Increased efficiency—demonstrated for
10,000 hours

Innovation Details

Detailed Description

Self-assembling nanostructures can combat degrading nanotips by repeatedly regenerating damaged emitter tips and restoring the damaged or degraded cathode. These regenerating nanotips can last tens of thousands of hours and quickly adapt to problems.

File Number: 0626.00

IP Protection

Patent Number(s):	8080930

License Online

This innovation currently is not available for online licensing. Please contact Michael Morley at Michigan Technological University for more information.

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