Carbon-nanotube digital X-rays transform the landscape after 130 years
Researchers have developed digital X-ray technology using carbon nanotubes, a material discovered in 1991, marking a significant advancement in medical imaging.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are transforming the X-ray industry, enabling digital X-rays that are more efficient and versatile than their analog predecessors. Discovered in 1991 by Dr. Sumio Iijima of NEC Corporation, CNTs are nanomaterials with carbon atoms bonded into cylindrical structures. These structures provide exceptional tensile strength and electrical conductivity.
CNTs facilitate cold-cathode field emission, allowing X-rays to be generated at room temperature without the need for the high temperatures required by traditional filament methods. This advancement enables the miniaturization of X-ray equipment, reducing size and weight while improving efficiency.
In industrial applications, CNT digital X-rays enhance high-speed continuous imaging and ultra-precise inspections, significantly improving product yields and safety. This technology is crucial in semiconductor manufacturing and electric-vehicle battery production, where it helps detect microscopic defects.
The global X-ray inspection-equipment market is projected to grow substantially, with CNT-based digital X-rays expected to expand at an average annual rate of 65% from 2025 to 2030. The United States, Germany, and Japan have historically dominated the market, but South Korea is making strides through collaborations between research institutes and companies like NOWSYSTEMS.
NOWSYSTEMS, leveraging technology from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, has commercialized digital X-ray tubes for food inspection and portable imaging. The company is expanding into nondestructive testing for electric-vehicle batteries and the semiconductor market, marking a shift from analog to digital X-ray sources using CNTs.
CNT digital X-rays are also being integrated into emergency medicine and food safety. Portable devices enable rapid imaging in ambulances, while high-resolution inspections ensure food safety by detecting nonmetallic contaminants. This technology is reshaping the X-ray landscape, making it more accessible and versatile.
Source: Carbon Nanotubes Feed