Abstract

A cold cathode has many applications in high frequency and high power electronic devices, X-ray source, vacuum microelectronic devices and vacuum nanoelectronic devices. After decades of exploration on the cold cathode materials, ZnO nanowire has been regarded as one of the most promising candidates, in particular for large area field emitter arrays (FEAs). Numerous works on the fundamental field emission properties of ZnO nanowire, as well as demonstrations of varieties of large area vacuum microelectronic applications, have been reported. Moreover, techniques such as modifying the geometrical structure, surface decoration and element doping were also proposed for optimizing the field emissions. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review on recent progress on the ZnO nanowire cold cathode and its applications. We will begin with a brief introduction on the synthesis methods and discuss their advantages/disadvantages for cold cathode applications. After that, the field emission properties, mechanism and optimization will be introduced in detail. Then, the development for applications of large-area ZnO nanowire FEAs will also be covered. Finally, some future perspectives are provided.

Highlights

  • Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations

  • If the barrier width for an electron is as narrow as several nanometers, there is a considerable probability the electrons will tunnel into the vacuum (Figure 1)

  • Field electron emission is the basic principle of a cold cathode

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Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. When a strong field is applied on a cathode surface, its vacuum barrier will bend. If the barrier width for an electron is as narrow as several nanometers, there is a considerable probability the electrons will tunnel into the vacuum (Figure 1). This process is referred to as field electron emission. Field electron emission is the basic principle of a cold cathode

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