Tuning porous surface coatings using a plasma spray torch

An electron emissive cooling material, comprising:

• synthesized carbon-containing composite materials based on metallic particles and carbon particles;
• a bonding layer disposed on a substrate to which the synthesized carbon-containing composite materials are bonded;
• and
• a surface layer comprising at least some of the synthesized carbon-containing composite materials, wherein the surface layer is configured to have physical characteristics of deposition including a RMS roughness between the range of about 2.1 microns and about 4.7 microns and comprises:
• aligned carbon nanostructures with exposed edge planes oriented perpendicular to the surface layer;
• a hierarchical network of interconnected micropores and mesopores extending from the surface into the layer;
• and
• metal nanoparticles dispersed within a carbon matrix forming localized regions of enhanced electron work function.