Field emission properties of diamond and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Both diamond and carbon nanotubes are efficient field emitters. Both materials can emit electrons at very low electric fields (3–7 V/μm for a current density of 10 mA/cm 2). Moreover, nanotube emitters are capable of delivering very high emission currents densities, with current density routinely exceeding 1 A/cm 2. Improvements of emission uniformity are critical in realizing the potential of these carbon materials in enabling practically useful cold cathode devices.