Efficient field emission from triode-type 1D arrays of carbon nanotubes.
Carbon nanotube (CNT) emitters were formed on line-patterned cathodes in microtrenches through a thermal CVD process. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) self-organized along the trench lines with a submicron inter-CNT spacing. Excellent field emission (FE) properties were obtained: current densities at the anode (J(a)) of 1 microA cm(-2), 10 mA cm(-2) and 100 mA cm(-2) were recorded at gate voltages (V(g)) of 16, 25 and 36 V, respectively. The required voltage difference to gain a 1:10 000 contrast of the anode current was as low as 9 V, indicating that a very low operating voltage is possible for these devices. Not only a large number of emission sites but also the optimal combination of trench structure and emitter morphology are crucial to achieve the full FE potential of thin CNTs with a practical lifetime. The FE properties of 1D arrays of CNT emitters and their optimal design are discussed. Self-organization of thin CNTs is an attractive prospect to tailor preferable emitter designs in FE devices.
Shiratori
Yosuke
Y
Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan. y-shiratori@chemsys.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Furuichi
Koji
K
Tsuji
Yoshiko
Y
Sugime
Hisashi
H
Noda
Suguru
S