Abstract
Electron field emission from allotropes of carbon (graphite, diamondlike carbon, and diamond) have been reported many times in the literature. This work explores the use of ion irradiation for improving electron field emission from carbon fibers. Carbon fibers have been irradiated with H, C, Ar, and Xe ions. Field emission characteristics have been measured as a function of ion dose. A reversible reduction in the required field for a fixed current level has been observed. The critical dose, Dc, defines the dose corresponding to the lowest field necessary to emit a fixed current (5 μA). The critical dose appears to correlate with the nuclear energy loss (collisions with atoms) of the ion in the carbon fiber. Transmission electron microscopy and parallel electron energy loss spectroscopy analysis indicate an amorphous surface, and an increase in the sp3 content of the fiber surface to 20%–30%. A corresponding decrease in the work function is expected and may account for the improvement in electron emission.
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