Uniform high current and current density field emission from the chiseled edge of a vertically aligned graphene-based thin film

Abstract

The field emission properties of the controlled emission edge of a vertically aligned graphene-based thin film are presented. A current and current density of above 7 mA and 200 A/cm2, respectively, with uniform electron emission, are achieved. Uniform high current and current density emissions can be realized by the pre-mechanical shaping and post electrical conditioning of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) film emission, owing to the robustness, thinness (<1 μm), and well-defined uniform film thickness. Field emission luminance demonstrates uniform emission over the entire emission area with a high aspect ratio. Along with a high current emission, the rGO film exhibits excellent emission stability, long-term. This offers prospects for various applications in field emission displays, electron microscopy, and particularly for the realization of miniaturized terahertz vacuum electronic devices, which require electron sources with uniform high currents and current densities, such as long-lifetime cold cathodes.