title: Highly efficient electron field emission from graphene oxide sheets supported by nickel nanotip arrays.
abstract: Electron field emission is a quantum tunneling phenomenon whereby electrons are emitted from a solid surface due to a strong electric field. Graphene and its derivatives are expected to be efficient field emitters due to their unique geometry and electrical properties. So far, electron field emission has only been achieved from the edges of graphene and graphene oxide sheets. We have supported graphene oxide sheets on nickel nanotip arrays to produce a high density of sharp protrusions within the sheets and then applied electric fields perpendicular to the sheets. Highly efficient and stable field emission with low turn-on fields was observed for these graphene oxide sheets, because the protrusions appear to locally enhance the electric field and dramatically increase field emission. Our simple and robust approach provides prospects for the development of practical electron sources and advanced devices based on graphene and graphene oxide field emitters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23284, USA. dye2@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Dexian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: Josephus D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Alison A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Baski
authors.forename: M Samy
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: El-Shall
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004579:Electron Transport; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D012666:Semiconductors; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010087:Oxides; D006108:Graphite; D009532:Nickel