Design of new process for stabilization of LaxGd1-xB6 nanorods and their Field Emission properties

Abstract

Among all the rare earth metal hexaboride, GdB6 shows the lowest work function of 1.5 eV, which makes GdB6 a promising field emitting material. In the present work, synthesis of LaxGd1-xB6 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) was attempted via borothermal reaction of LaxGd1-x(OH)3 nanorods and sodium borohydride at 1000 °C. The synthesis of ultrafine nanorods of LaxGd1-x(OH)3 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) has been attempted via the hydrothermal route. The LaxGd1-x(OH)3 is annealed with NaBH4 in presence of argon, which leads to the formation of LaxGd1-xB6. TEM study of LaxGd1-xB6 indicates the nanorods formation of diameter 30–40 nm and length 130 nm. Further, as-synthesised LaxGd1-xB6 sample has been spin-coated over the silicon substrate and deposited LaxGd1-xB6 film was used for the field emission study. The field emission study shows the lowest turn-on field for LaxGd1-xB6 (x = 0.5) which is 5.01 V/μm with the highest field enhancement factor (β = 1568).