Abstract
Electron-field-emission properties have been investigated systematically for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) fabricated on a metal tip. With a vacuum gap of 0.7mm, the threshold field is as low as 0.7V/μm and the current density approaches 10mA/cm2 at an electronic field of 1.0V/μm. The emission current is quite stable with very low fluctuation. The emission behavior is in excellent agreement with Fowler-Nordheim theory and no current saturation is found even with an emission current reaching 1A/cm2. A universal relationship 1/β=d2/d+1/β0 between the field amplification factor β and the vacuum gap d is developed within a two-region field-emission model. This relationship provides the basis for a microscopic understanding of CNT emitters and is applicable to other systems as well.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 506-508 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 80 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 Jan 21 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)