Mechanism of field electron emission from carbon nanotubes

Field electron emission (FE) is a quantum tunneling process in which electrons are injected from materials (usually metals) into a vacuum under the influence of an applied electric field. In order to obtain usable electron current, the conventional way is to increase the local field at the surface of an emitter. For a plane metal emitter with a typical work function of 5 eV, an applied field of over 1 000 V/μm is needed to obtain a significant current. The high working field (and/or the voltage between the electrodes) has been the bottleneck for many applications of the FE technique. Since the 1960s, enormous effort has been devoted to reduce the working macroscopic field (voltage). A widely adopted idea is to sharpen the emitters to get a large surface field enhancement. The materials of emitters should have good electronic conductivity, high melting points, good chemical inertness, and high mechanical stiffness. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are built with such needed properties. As a quasi-one-dimensional material, the CNT is expected to have a large surface field enhancement factor. The experiments have proved the excellent FE performance of CNTs. The turn-on field (the macroscopic field for obtaining a density of 10 μA/cm²) of CNT based emitters can be as low as 1 V/μm. However, this turn-on field is too good to be explained by conventional theory. There are other observations, such as the non-linear Fowler-Nordheim plot and multi-peaks field emission energy distribution spectra, indicating that the field enhancement is not the only story in the FE of CNTs. Since the discovery of CNTs, people have employed more serious quantum mechanical methods, including the electronic band theory, tight-binding theory, scattering theory and density function theory, to investigate FE of CNTs. A few theoretical models have been developed at the same time. The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) should be assembled with a sharp metal needle of nano-scale radius, for which the FE mechanism is more or less clear. Although MWCNTs are more common in present FE applications, the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are more interesting in the theoretical point of view since the SWCNTs have unique atomic structures and electronic properties. It would be very interesting if people can predict the behavior of the well-defined SWCNTs quantitatively (for MWCNTs, this is currently impossible). The FE as a tunneling process is sensitive to the apex-vacuum potential barrier of CNTs. On the other hand, the barrier could be significantly altered by the redistribution of excessive charges in the micrometer long SWCNTs, which have only one layer of carbon atoms. Therefore, the conventional theories based upon the hypothesis of fixed potential (work function) would not be valid in this quasi-one-dimensional system. In this review, we shall focus on the mechanism that would be responsible for the superior field emission characteristics of CNTs. We shall introduce a multi-scale simulation algorithm that deals with the entire carbon nanotube as well as the substrate as a whole. The simulation for (5, 5) capped SWCNTs with lengths in the order of micrometers is given as an example. The results show that the field dependence of the apex-vacuum electron potential barrier of a long carbon nanotube is a more pronounced effect, besides the local field enhancement phenomenon.     

利用场发射显微镜研究O2对单壁碳纳米管场发射的影响

利用场发射显微镜和四极质谱计研究了充入高纯O2的四极质谱和O2对单壁碳纳米管场发射的影响.单壁碳纳米管经过约1000℃的热处理得到清洁态场发射像后，充入O2，分别测量了O2吸附和脱附后场发射的I V特性.实验观测到在单壁碳纳米管上O2的吸附使场发射电流减小，说明逸出功增加.在10-4Pa的O2压强下对单壁碳纳米管进行约1000℃的热处理，可以产生氧化刻蚀作用，观测到场发射像的变化，并测量了氧化刻蚀产生的I V特性变化. 关键词： 单壁碳纳米管 场发射显微镜 场发射 四极质谱     

碳纳米管网络导电特征的导电型原子力显微镜研究

利用导电型原子力显微镜对大范围碳纳米管（CNT）网络的导电性能进行成像观察.研究发现：在几十微米的成像范围内,每根CNT本身的电阻远小于CNT之间的接触电阻,以致于在电压偏置的网络中不同的CNT呈现电位不同的等位体;CNT的导电性能虽不因与其他CNT的交叠接触而改变,但是如果缠绕成束,则半导体性CNT趋于呈现金属性CNT的导电特征. 关键词： 导电型原子力显微镜 碳纳米管网络 碳管纳米电导     

Coherent field emission from a multi-walled carbon nanotube with two open-ended branches

Interference fringes are obtained in a field-emission microscopy (FEM) study of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) with two open-ended branches. The FEM pattern, which is composed of three parallel streaks, can be interpreted by using classical Young's double-slit interference with the ends of the two MWCNT branches treated as two secondary sources of the electron wave. The origin of the coherency of the electron beams from the two branches is discussed on the basis of the quantitative analysis of the FEM pattern. The result suggests a new approach to obtaining a coherent electron source.     

碳纳米管场致电子发射新机制

基于对长达 1μm的 (5 ,5 )碳纳米管的量子力学计算 ,作者发现使碳纳米管具有优异场致电子发射特性的因素除了人们预期的尖端场增强之外 ,电荷在纳米管尖端的积累造成有效功函数 (真空势垒 )的非线性下降也起了非常重要的作用 .对外加电场Vappl=10— 14V/ μm下的碳纳米管进行了计算 ,得到与实验结果相近的发射电流     

深紫外激光光发射与热发射电子显微镜在热扩散阴极研究中的应用

对热扩散阴极表面微区发射状态进行原位观察和分析一直是热阴极研究的重要课题.本文着重介绍深紫外激光光发射电子/热发射电子显微镜的基本原理及其在热扩散阴极研究中的典型实例.系统配备了高温激活所用的加热装置,样品可被加热至1400℃.系统具有光发射电子、阴极热发射电子、光发射电子和阴极热发射电子联合三种电子成像模式.应用表明,对于热扩散阴极而言,深紫外激光光发射电子像适于呈现阴极表面的微观结构形貌;热发射电子像适于反映阴极表面的本征热电子发射及均匀性;光电子和热电子联合成像适于对阴极表面的有效发射点做出精确定位.     

碳纳米管端口的场蒸发

将单根多壁碳纳米管(multi-walled carbon nanotube,MWCNT)组装在W针尖上并送入超高真空场发射/场离子显微镜(Ultrahigh Vacuum Field-emission/Field-Ion microscope,UHV-FEM/FIM)进行场蒸发及场发射研究.结果表明,场蒸发可以降低MWCNT的逸出功,从而增强其场发射能力.估算MWCNT的蒸发场低于1.3×10⁸V·cm^-1,且在此场强下的平均蒸发速率为9.4nm·min^-1.定性讨论了MWCNT的蒸发场大大低于C的理论值的原因.首先,通过场解吸获得的清洁端口上有较多悬挂键,平均每个C原子的配位数较小,所以升华热较低.其次,可能存在于MWCNT中的H原子会在强场下碰撞端口的C原子,使其更易蒸发.以上结果显示了利用场蒸发剪短碳纳米管从而改善其场发射特性的可行性. 关键词： 碳纳米管 场蒸发 场发射     

掺硼水吸附碳纳米管电子场发射性能的第一性原理研究

运用第一性原理研究了掺硼碳纳米管(BCNT)顶端吸附水分子后的电子场发射性能.结果表明：掺B及吸附H₂O的碳纳米管(BCNT+H₂O)端部形成电子聚集的原子尺度微区,其电子态密度(DOS)在费米能级(E_f)附近有很大提高.根据计算的电子DOS,HOMO/LUMO及Mulliken电荷分布等可知BCNT+H₂O比CNT+H₂O有更好的场发射性能. 关键词： 掺硼碳纳米管 吸附 密度泛函理论 电子场发射     

氮掺杂及水分子吸附碳纳米管电子场发射第一性原理研究

对闭口碳纳米管(CNT)顶端分层掺氮及吸附不同数目水分子体系,运用第一性原理研究了有电场存在时的电子场发射性能.结果表明：掺氮并吸附水分子的CNT结构稳定;外电场愈强、水分子数愈多,体系态密度(DOS)向低能端移动幅度愈大且最高分子占据轨道(HOMO)/最低分子空轨道(LUMO)能隙愈小.吸附能,DOS/LDOS,HOMO/LUMO及其能隙分析一致表明,第三层氮掺杂CNT吸附不同数目水分子体系的场发射性能最佳. 关键词： 氮掺杂 水吸附 密度泛函理论 电子场发射     

Influence of high-energy electron irradiation on field emission properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) films

The effect of very high energy electron beam irradiation on the field emission characteristics of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been investigated. The MWCNTs films deposited on silicon (Si) substrates were irradiated with 6 MeV electron beam at different fluence of 1×10¹⁵, 2×10¹⁵ and 3×10¹⁵ electrons/cm². The irradiated films were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and micro-Raman spectrometer. The SEM analysis clearly revealed a change in surface morphology of the films upon irradiation. The Raman spectra of the irradiated films show structural damage caused by the interaction of high-energy electrons. The field emission studies were carried out in a planar diode configuration at the base pressure of ∼1×10⁻⁸ mbar. The values of the threshold field, required to draw an emission current density of ∼1 μA/cm², are found to be ∼0.52, 1.9, 1.3 and 0.8 V/μm for untreated, irradiated with fluence of 1×10¹⁵, 2×10¹⁵ and 3×10¹⁵ electrons/cm². The irradiated films exhibit better emission current stability as compared to the untreated film. The improved field emission properties of the irradiated films have been attributed to the structural damage as revealed from the Raman studies.     

Low energy electron point source microscopy

The setup of the LEEPS (low energy electron point source) microscope is described and images of carbon fibres and nanotubes are shown and compared to simulated images. We used a Kirchhoff-Helmholtz type transform to reconstruct the (wave front at the) object. We also showed that this transform can be used to reconstruct optical in-line holograms.     

太赫兹源场致发射电子源

通过粒子模拟(PIC)软件模拟计算了在ps级别下二极与三极结构碳纳米管场致发射的电流密度与电子注聚焦性能。阳极电压在2 kV时,二极结构下电流密度达到1.85 A/cm2;三极结构下,栅压700 V时发射电流密度达到2.3 A/cm2,且在一定的三极结构参数与电极电压下,可以获得较好的电子注聚束效果。通过碳纳米管二极管发射实验,获得了6.6 A/cm2的发射电流密度,总发射电流达到52.1 mA,可以为太赫兹器件提供连续发射的电子注。     

碳纳米管在大气压环境中的场致发射特性

研究了在大气压环境下,单根碳纳米管作为场致发射阴极,与阳极间距为100—200 nm时的场致发射特性.对比了碳纳米管在不同阴阳极间距和不同气体环境中的场致发射电流和噪声的特点. 关键词： 碳纳米管 场致发射 大气压     

镜像势对碳纳米管阵列场发射特性的影响

采用多尺度量子化学方法模拟了碳纳米管阵列的场发射特性.碳纳米管镜像势的作用可以等效地用原子尺寸的理想金属球的镜像势来代替.模拟计算结果表明,考虑了镜像势作用后的碳纳米管阵列发射电流密度比没有考虑镜像势的结果增大了约6倍. 关键词： 镜像势 碳纳米管 场致发射     

碳纳米管的变温场发射

考察了温度变化对沉积在钨丝针尖上的碳纳米管场发射的影响，发现碳纳米管场发射电流随温度升高而增大，场发射电流的稳定性基本没有变化. 多根碳纳米管的场发射特性随温度变化出现偏离Fowler-Nordheim理论的现象，这种现象可能来自碳纳米管的不均匀性.     

介电体围绕下绳束状碳纳米管的场发射特性(英文)

在周边环绕玻璃薄片介电体的作用下,绳束状碳纳米管宏观体的场发射电流发生异常跃迁,同时伴随有场发射电子光斑的横向扩展,导致跃迁后的场发射电流明显高于正常情况。所有观察到的现象均与介电体存在下的电场重新分布和电子轨迹偏离有关。理论分析及随后的场发射测试检验了介电体几何尺寸、间距、介电常数等因素对场发射I-V性能的影响。研究结果提供了一种控制Spindt型场发射体电子发射性能的新的可行途径。     

碳纳米管/金刚石复合材料的场发射特性

采用微波烧结方法制备了碳纳米管/金刚石复合材料。将碳纳米管和纳米金刚石粉末混合后研磨压片,然后在微波等离子气相沉积系统中采用微波烧结。利用扫描电镜对复合材料的表面形貌和微观结构进行了分析,结果显示碳纳米管比较均匀地分散于复合材料中,并在表面形成了发射微尖。利用二极管结构在动态真空室中对复合材料的场发射特性进行了研究,复合材料有较好的场发射特性,电流密度接近15mA/cm2。     

Peierls相变与磁场中碳纳米管的场发射

应用紧束缚模型和WKB方法研究碳纳米管的out-of-plane型Peierls相变,及其对碳纳米管的场发射的影响.结果发现Peierls相变会在室温出现,并使碳纳米管费米面附近出现能隙,导致碳纳米管发生金属—半导体转变,从而抑制碳纳米管的场发射.磁场也会抑制Peierls形变,Peierls相变和磁场相互竞争影响碳纳米管的能带结构,从而影响碳纳米管的场发射. 关键词： 场发射 碳纳米管 Peierls相变     

碳纳米管阴极强流脉冲发射放气质谱分析

借助2 MeV直线感应加速器注入器平台,利用四极质谱仪研究了碳纳米管阴极的强流脉冲发射放气质谱特性. 研究结果表明:在脉冲高压电场下,碳纳米管阴极材料释放出较多的吸附气体,解吸气体又以CO₂,N₂(CO),H₂三种气体居多,这些解吸气体在阴极等离子体形成过程中起着重要的作用. 通过分析解吸气体成分的含量,证明碳纳米管阴极强流脉冲电子发射过程为场致等离子体发射,而不是场致爆炸发射. 关键词： 碳纳米管阴极 强流脉冲发射 质谱分析 场致等离子体发射