Abstract
Here, we demonstrate the simple fabrication of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) field emission electrode which shows excellent field emission characteristics and remarkable field emission stability without requiring posttreatment. Chemically functionalized SWCNTs were chemically attached to a silicon substrate. The chemical attachment led to vertical alignment of SWCNTs on the surface. Field emission sweeps and Fowler-Nordheim plots showed that the Si-SWCNT electrodes field emit with a low turn-on electric field of 1.5 V μm−1 and high electric field enhancement factor of 3,965. The Si-SWCNT electrodes were shown to maintain a current density of >740 μA cm−2 for 15 h with negligible change in applied voltage. The results indicate that adhesion strength between the SWCNTs and substrate is a much greater factor in field emission stability than previously reported.
Highlights
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a high aspect ratio and high electrical conductivity which make them prime candidates for field emission electrodes [1,2]
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are accepted to have excellent field emission properties including a low turn-on field and high electric field enhancement factor (β) since their small diameter provides the highest aspect ratio compared with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) [4,5,6]
We have recently reported field emission from SWCNTs chemically attached to silicon and showed that these devices could withstand field emission current densities up to 500 μA cm−2 and were relatively stable, with the voltage required to maintain a current density of 95 μA cm−2 only increasing by 15% after 15 h and by 36% after 65 h [10]
Summary
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a high aspect ratio and high electrical conductivity which make them prime candidates for field emission electrodes [1,2]. The practical application of a CNT-based field emission device requires both a low turn-on electric field (Eto) and a stable output current [3]. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are accepted to have excellent field emission properties including a low turn-on field and high electric field enhancement factor (β) since their small diameter provides the highest aspect ratio compared with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) [4,5,6]. Improving the emission stability from SWCNT electrodes without adversely affecting Eto and β is an ultimate goal in the field [3]
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