Few people would connect an X-ray image of their teeth with the space propulsion systems that keep satellites in orbit. Yet both sets of technologies rely on the same basic physics: generating controlled streams of electrons in a vacuum.
In most cases, those electrons are still produced using thermionic emission. Developed more than a century ago, the method requires heating a metal filament to around 1,000°C so that electrons boil off its surface. The drawback is that operating at such high temperatures puts constant stress on components and increases the risk of failure.
ColdXray takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of relying on heat, the company uses graphene-based materials to release electrons through an electric field. This reduces stress on components, allowing more stable operation over time.
The company’s technology grew out of more than 15 years of academic research. This work began at Moscow State University and later continued at the University of Eastern Finland. “The shift we are driving is comparable in nature to the transition from incandescent light bulbs to LEDs, but in the field electrons,” says Founder and CEO Petr Obraztsov.
Opening new possibilities in space
While the technology was first developed with X-ray systems in mind, its relevance to space applications quickly became clear. Electric propulsion systems on modern satellites depend on controlled streams of electrons to neutralize charge and maintain stable operation in orbit.
“In space propulsion, electrons are needed to neutralize the stream of charged particles that produces thrust. Without that balance, the thruster cannot operate reliably,” says Obraztsov.
Engineers in the space sector soon recognized the relevance of ColdXray’s work. This led the company to join the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) in Finland, so the technology could be further developed for that sector.
This work has resulted in the development of electron emitters capable of stable generation over extended operating periods. The research confirms that ColdXray’s emission technology can match the performance of conventional systems, with far less thermal stress.
“We have working prototypes of electron emission devices that have already been tested in real conditions. Our cathode demonstrated reliable and long-term operation in the harsh environment of space,” says Obraztsov.
From family roots to future markets
ColdXray’s origins are deeply personal. The company’s CTO is Obraztsov’s father, a physicist who invented the core technology. Obraztsov’s mother is also a physicist. Growing up in a family of scientists shaped his worldview and laid the foundation for the future company.
“After acceptance into ESA BIC, we understood that there is real interest in this technology. It was a very good kick start for us,” Obraztsov recalls.
Since completing the programme, ColdXray has begun working with its first paying customers and attracting interest from major space-sector players. This includes winning a technology challenge organized by French aerospace company Safran.
ColdXray’s commercial model centres on evaluation kits, proof-of-concept projects and collaboration with partners that want to test or integrate the technology into larger systems. Licensing and joint development are on the table too.
“We are looking for customers, collaborators and investors who see the potential in our technology,” Obraztsov says. “This is not just a better component – it’s a completely new way of thinking about electrons and how they are generated.”
- More about ColdXray: coldxray.com
- More about ESA BIC Finalnd: esabic.fi
About ESA BIC Finland ESA BIC Finland, coordinated by the Aalto University Startup Center, is a business incubator that propels space-related entrepreneurial ventures through strategic support, networking, and funding.
