Electron field emission from carbon nanoparticles prepared by microwave-plasma chemical-vapor deposition

Abstract

Carbon nanoparticles were prepared from H2 and CH4 at various temperatures. The carbon nanoparticles were well graphitized, and the degree of graphitization increased with increasing growth temperature. Field-emission measurements showed that the carbon nanoparticles were excellent electron field emitters, comparable to carbon nanotubes. The field-emission properties became better with increasing growth temperature, and the threshold fields of the carbon nanoparticles deposited at 400, 500, 670°C were 3.2, 3, and 1 V/μm, respectively. The low-threshold field of the carbon nanoparticles is attributed to the field-enhancement effect and the higher degree of graphitization. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.