PbS Nanostar‐Like Structures as Field Emitters

Abstract

AbstractThe crystalline PbS nanostars were synthesized by thermal decomposition of thioacetamide (TAA) in aqueous solutions of lead acetate and acetic acid at 80 °C. The structure and morphology of the PbS nanostars have been characterized using X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The optical properties of the PbS nanostars have been studied using UV‐Visible absorption Spectroscopy (UV‐Vis). The field emission investigations have been carried out on the as synthesized PbS nanostars at the base pressure of ∼1×10−8 mbar. The turn on field required to draw an emission current density of 1 μA/cm2 is found to be 1.8 V/μm. The emission current‐time plots show good emission current stability of the PbS nanostar emitter over a period of 4 hrs. The results in terms of low turn‐on field and long term emission current stability of the PbS nanostars emitter reveals that it can be used in field emission based vacuum microelectronics / nanoelectronic devices.