X-ray tube assemblies are high-energy rays with extremely strong penetrating power. However, the degree to which substances absorb them varies. Thanks to this characteristic, X-rays are widely used in cancer treatment, medical imaging, security checks, industrial non-destructive testing and other fields. Carbon nanotube X-ray sources are X-ray sources based on carbon nanotubes. As a new type of X-ray source, carbon nanotube X-ray sources have multiple advantages such as high photon efficiency, low power consumption, controllable emission, and easy integration. The development of carbon nanotube X-ray sources will bring more revolutionary breakthroughs in technology to CT equipment.

Carbon nanotubes are a kind of one-dimensional quantum material. Compared with traditional metals and polymer materials, carbon nanotubes have better electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. Relying on these outstanding properties, carbon nanotubes have gradually become commonly used nanomaterials in field emission electron sources.

X-ray tubes are important tools for manufacturing X-rays. According to different types, carbon nanotube X-ray tube assemblies can be divided into two major categories: CNT digital X-ray tubes and CNT ordinary X-ray tubes. Among them, CNT digital X-ray tubes are the mainstream products in the market, accounting for nearly 80%.

X-ray tube assemblies typically rely mainly on thermal cathode technology, but thermal cathode X-ray sources have problems such as slow startup, high power consumption, and a large amount of ineffective radiation dose. The innovation point of the carbon nanotube X-ray source lies in the replacement of the hot cathode with the cold cathode of the carbon nanotube field emission, which endows the carbon nanotube X-ray source with many advantages such as low power consumption and controllable emission. Relying on its advantages, carbon nanotube X-ray sources are expected to bring structural breakthroughs to CT equipment, X-ray imaging equipment and even medical DR Equipment.