Enhanced Field Emission from Large-Area Arrays of W18O49 Pencil-Like Nanostructure

Field enhancement and field screening are two major factors affecting field emission performance of arrays of quasi one-dimensional nanostructures. We have observed enhanced field emission from large-area arrays of W₁₈O₄₉ pencil-like nanostructure due to both the effects of high aspect ratio and enlarged spacing between neighboring nanostructures. These arrays may be grown on silicon substrates by the multi-step thermal evaporation process. The spacing of nanotip-to-nanotip between neighboring nanostructures may be increased by adjusting the growth temperature. The arrays are observed to have a typical turn-on field as low as about 1.26 MV/m and a threshold field as low as about 3.39 MV/m, resulting in increasing field enhancement and decreasing field screening effect.