Field emission from individual MWNT

Abstract Submitted to the ;

Field emission from individual MWNT

M. Sveningsson, K. Hansen, K. Svensson¹, E. Olsson¹, E.E.B Campbell

Department of Physics, Göteborg University, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
¹ Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
Contact e-mail: f3amsv@fy.chalmers.se

Electron field emission from multi-walled carbon nanotubes has been a hot topic for the last 10 years. Prototype products such as low energy consumption lamps and flat panel displays have already been realized [1, 2], but some issues concerning the emission from individual tubes are still unsolved. Here we investigate the electron field emission from individual MWNT and how the current is influenced by a change in the emitter temperature. The temperature can increase to above 2000 K which is caused by strong ohmic heating under high electron emission [3]. The simulations carried out indicate a non-linear Fowler-Nordheim plot for emission currents above 10 µA which can be explained with the enhanced emission current as a result of an increased emitter temperature. In the model we have also looked at the temperature dependent resistance of the MWNT which has a strong influence on the outcome. The presented model is also compared with experimental results measuring electron field emission using a combined STM-TEM setup.

[1] D.-S. Chung et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 21, 4045-4047 (2002)
[2] Y. Saito et al., Appl. Surf. Sci., 146, 1-4, 305-311 (1999)
[3] M. Sveningsson et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 81, 6, 1095-1097 (2002)

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