Innovative multiwall carbon nanotubes synthesis on 3D nickel surface: a comparative study

Abstract

The article presents the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the porous nickel foam (3D-Ni) surface using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, followed by the field emission characteristics of the resulting 3D-Ni/MWCNT nanocomposite structures. The characterization of the 3D-Ni/MWCNT morphology showed a uniform distribution of the “moss-like” CNT coating on the walls of the porous 3D-Ni. TEM images showed a high number of walls in MWCNTs, which made such a material resistant to destruction under conditions of strong electric fields during the field emission process. The studies also showed a high degree of chemical purity of the synthesized MWCNTs under the presented technological conditions. An increase in the emission current due to the introduction of CNTs into the structure of porous 3D-Ni is shown. 3D-Ni/MWCNTs field emitter showed a low turn-on field of 5.41 V/μm; a field enhancement factor of 915; and high operating stability. For the first time, the current mode of 3D-Ni-MWCNTs cathode was tested for compliance with the classical field emission law using the Forbes “orthodoxy” test.