FIELD DESORPTION MICROSCOPY OF CARBON-COATED FIELD ELECTRON EMITTERS

Полевые электронные эмиттеры в форме металлического острия с пленкой углерода на поверхности обладают рядом перспективных эксплуатационных свойств. Характеристики эмиттера зависят от фазового состава, толщины и однородности пленки. Определение параметров пленок толщиной в один или несколько моноатомных слоев представляет определённые трудности. В данной работе образование и характеристики углеродных наноструктур на поверхности полевых эмиттеров из иридия и рения исследуются с помощью полевой десорбционной микроскопии непрерывного режима. На полевых десорбционных изображениях области углеродных наноструктур проявляются в виде локальных вспышек (лавинообразная десорбция). При покадровом анализе видеозаписей вспышек обнаружено несколько стадий формирования вспышек и выявлены различия в протекании десорбции с углеродных наноструктур на иридии и на рении. Обнаруженные различия объясняются образованием на иридии однослойного, а на рении многослойного графена. Десорбционные изображения выявляют неоднородности и локальные различия толщины пленки. Показано, что полевая десорбционная микроскопия непрерывного режима позволяет определять закономерности формирования полевых десорбционных изображений различных углеродных наноструктур, в частности, однослойного и многослойного графена на поверхности полевого эмиттера, и проводить диагностику поверхности после науглероживания и контролировать однородность получаемого покрытия. Получаемые данные полезны для разработки технологии эффективных полевых электронных эмиттеров. Field electron emitters in the form of a metal tip with a carbon film on the surface have a number of promising operational properties. The characteristics of the emitter depend on the phase composition, thickness and uniformity of the film. Determining the parameters of films with a thickness of one or more monoatomic layers presents certain difficulties. In this paper, the formation and characteristics of carbon nanostructures on the surface of field emitters made of iridium and rhenium are studied using continuous-mode field desorption microscopy. In the field desorption images, the regions of carbon nanostructures appear as local flashes (avalanche-like desorption). Frame-by-frame analysis of flash video recordings revealed several stages of the flash formation and revealed differences in the desorption from carbon nanostructures on iridium and rhenium. The found differences are explained by formation of the single-layer graphene on iridium and a multilayer graphene on rhenium. Desorption images reveal inhomogeneities and local differences in the film thickness. It is shown that continuous-mode field desorption microscopy makes it possible to determine the regularities of formation of the field desorption images of various carbon nanostructures, in particular, the single-layer and multilayer graphene on the surface of the field emitter, and to diagnose the surface after carburization. Besides, control the uniformity of the resulting coating is possible. The obtained data are useful for developing technology of the effective field electronic emitters.

Nanostructured SiC as a promising material for the cold electron emitters

In this paper, the novel cold electron emitters based on nanostructured SiC layers covering the Si(001) substrate have been proposed. Their main advantage is an extremely simple and cost-effective manufacturing process based on the standard microelectronics-grade silicon wafers with no ultra-high vacuum required and no complicated chemical deposition processes or toxic chemicals involved. It integrates within a single technological step both the SiC growth and nanostructuring the surface in the form of nanosized protrusions, which is extremely beneficial for cathode applications. A simple mathematical model predicts field emission current densities and turn-on electric fields, which would allow practical device applications. According to our estimations, emission currents in the milli-Amp range can be harvested from one square centimeter of the cathode surface with electric field close to 107 V/m. So, the nanostructured SiC can be the promising material for the cold electron emitters.

Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Using Auger Electron Emitters: The Quest for the Right Vector and the Right Radionuclide

Auger electron emitters (AEEs) are attractive tools in targeted radionuclide therapy to specifically irradiate tumour cells while sparing healthy tissues. However, because of their short range, AEEs need to be brought close to sensitive targets, particularly nuclear DNA, and to a lower extent, cell membrane. Therefore, radioimmunoconjugates (RIC) have been developed for specific tumour cell targeting and transportation to the nucleus. Herein, we assessed, in A-431CEA-luc and SK-OV-31B9 cancer cells that express low and high levels of HER2 receptors, two 111In-RIC consisting of the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab conjugated to NLS or TAT peptides for nuclear delivery. We found that NLS and TAT peptides improved the nuclear uptake of 111In-trastuzumab conjugates, but this effect was limited and non-specific. Moreover, it did not result in a drastic decrease of clonogenic survival. Indium-111 also contributed to non-specific cytotoxicity in vitro due to conversion electrons (30% of the cell killing). Comparison with [125I]I-UdR showed that the energy released in the cell nucleus by increasing the RIC’s nuclear uptake or by choosing an AEE that releases more energy per decay should be 5 to 10 times higher to observe a significant therapeutic effect. Therefore, new Auger-based radiopharmaceuticals need to be developed.