Statistical dispersion of the field emission parameters of multipoint cathodes based on a polymer-carbon nanotube composite

Abstract

Statistical properties of the characteristics of a field-electron emitter based on a polystyrene-carbon nanotube composite have been studied. Experimental data have been used to plot the slope versus intercept of I-U curve in the Fowler-Nordheim coordinates and a histogram of the effective heights of emission centers. Numerical estimations show that this statistics obeys the lognormal distribution law. A series of experiments have been performed for determining the influence of the level of emission current on the character of distribution, and a model describing this dependence is proposed.