High-current-density field emitters based on arrays of carbon nanotube bundles

We have developed high-current density field emission sources using arrays of multiwalled carbon nanotube bundles. The field emission behavior of a variety of lithographically patterned array geometries was investigated and the arrays of 1-μm and 2-μm-diameter nanotube bundles spaced 5μm apart (edge-to-edge spacing) were identified as the most optimum combination, routinely producing 1.5–1.8A∕cm2 at low electric fields of approximately 4V∕μm, rising to >6A∕cm2 at 20V∕μm over a ∼100-μm-diameter area. We have found that the field emission performance depends strongly on the bundle diameter and interbundle spacing and such arrays perform significantly better in field emission than ordered arrays of isolated nanotubes or dense, continuous mats of nanotubes previously reported in literature.

[1]  Sungho Jin,et al.  Electron field emission from nanostructured diamond and carbon nanotubes , 2001 .

[2]  Jung Sang Suh,et al.  Study of the field-screening effect of highly ordered carbon nanotube arrays , 2002 .

[3]  Hiroyuki Yamakawa,et al.  Field emission from well-aligned, patterned, carbon nanotube emitters , 2000 .

[4]  S. H. Jo,et al.  Effect of length and spacing of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on field emission properties , 2003 .

[5]  Gehan A. J. Amaratunga,et al.  Field electron emission from individual carbon nanotubes of a vertically aligned array , 2002 .

[6]  G. Amaratunga,et al.  Field emission from short and stubby vertically aligned carbon nanotubes , 2001 .

[7]  A. Alec Talin,et al.  Field emission displays: a critical review , 2001 .

[8]  J. Sohn,et al.  Patterned selective growth of carbon nanotubes and large field emission from vertically well-aligned carbon nanotube field emitter arrays , 2001 .

[9]  Thomas Stöckli,et al.  Field emission from carbon nanotubes: the first five years , 2001 .

[10]  John T. L. Thong,et al.  High-current field emission from a vertically aligned carbon nanotube field emitter array , 2001 .

[11]  O. Zhou,et al.  Very large current density from carbon nanotube field emitters , 1999, International Electron Devices Meeting 1999. Technical Digest (Cat. No.99CH36318).

[12]  Gehan A. J. Amaratunga,et al.  Field emission from dense, sparse and patterned arrays of carbon nanofibers , 2002 .

[13]  Klaus Kern,et al.  Scanning field emission from patterned carbon nanotube films , 2000 .

[14]  Sungho Jin,et al.  In situ-grown carbon nanotube array with excellent field emission characteristics , 2000 .

[15]  H. Dai,et al.  Self-oriented regular arrays of carbon nanotubes and their field emission properties , 1999, Science.