Improving oxidation resistance of carbon nanotubes at high temperature using boron and phosphorus compounds

This study investigated the effect of boron and phosphorus compounds on the thermal stability and oxidation resistance of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Addition of these compounds evidently increased oxidation temperatures of CNTs probably by poisoning chemically their active sites. We applied the CNTs treated with boron and phosphorus compounds to the CNT paste emitters for electron sources of x-ray tubes. The incorporation of boron and phosphorus compounds in the CNT paste showed a reduced degradation of field emission characteristics of CNT paste emitters upon exposure to the high-temperature vacuum brazing condition.