Structural degradation mechanism of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in electrically treated field emission

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes in printed field emission arrays are known to be often damaged during field emission. A high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman scattering spectra suggest that the degraded structure is mainly determined by electrical treatment conditions. A nonstationary alternating-current treatment has caused emitters to be thicker and fewer with loss of crystallinity but improved the emission brightness and uniformity, while a direct-current treatment has shown little influence. The experimental observations can be quantitatively explained by the analytical estimation on the apex radius as well as the work function using the Seppen-Katamuki chart from the Fowler-Nordheim characteristics. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.