Self-assembled ZnS nanowire arrays: synthesis, in situ Cu doping and field emission

Abstract

Well-aligned single-crystalline ZnS nanowire arrays have been grown on highly conductiveCu substrates through controlling the morphology evolution of self-patternedZnS nanoparticles. The ZnS nanowires have sharp tips with an average size of ∼ 30 nm and alength of ∼ 3 µm. Field emission measurements demonstrated that the aligned ZnS nanowiresgrown on Cu substrates are excellent field emitters having a turn-on field as low as2.92 V µm − 1 and a field-enhancement factor as high as 3400. The use of highly conductive metalsubstrate may promote the commercial applications of ZnS-based emitters in flat paneldisplays and other optoelectronic devices.