Vertically self‐aligned conical carbon nanofibers by pulsed discharge plasma chemical vapour deposition and its field electron emission

Abstract

AbstractVertically self‐aligned conical carbon nanofibers were deposited on silicon coated with thin film of cobalt (100 nm) using pulsed discharge plasma chemical vapor deposition at 400–450 °C. Possible mechanism of their growth is discussed. FE‐SEM observations indicate that they are self vertically well aligned, with an average diameter of about 200 nm at the bottom and with a tip of about 70 to 100 nm in diameter. HR‐TEM, visible Raman and XRD study reveals that the nanofibers have an amorphous structure and are made of diamond like carbon. Field electron emission study indicates a low turn‐on field of about 1.4 V/μm and threshold field of about 4.2 V/μm, suggesting their possible application as field electron emitters. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)