title: Efficient field emission from triode-type 1D arrays of carbon nanotubes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiratori
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furuichi
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugime
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noda