Efficient field emission from coiled carbon nano/microfiber on copper substrate by dc-PECVD

Crystalline coiled carbon nano/micro fibers in thin film form have been synthesized via direct current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on copper substrates with acetylene as a carbon precursor at 10 mbar pressure and 750 °C substrate temperature. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). XRD pattern as well as selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern showed that the samples were crystalline in nature. SEM and HRTEM studies showed that as synthesized coiled carbon fibers are having average diameter ∼100 nm and are several micrometers in length. The as-prepared samples showed moderately good electron field emission properties with a turn-on field as low as 1.96 V/μm for an inter-electrode distance 220 μm. The variation of field emission properties with inter-electrode distance has been studied in detail. The field emission properties of the coiled carbon fibrous thin films are compared with that of crystalline multiwalled carbon nanotubes and other carbon nanostructures.     

Enhanced Field Emission from Vertical ZnO Nanoneedles on Micropyramids

Vertical ZnO nanoneedles with sharp tips are secondarily grown on tips of primarily grown ZnO micropyramids by a vapour transport process. The field emission （FE） properties exhibit a lower turn-on electric field and a higher field enhancement factor as compared with vertical ZnO microrods. This result indicates that ZnO nanoneedles have good optimum shapes for FE due to electron accumulation at sharp tips.     

Low-macroscopic field emission from silicon-incorporated diamond-like carbon film synthesized by dc PECVD

Silicon-incorporated diamond-like carbon (Si-DLC) films were deposited via dc plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), on glass and alumina substrates at a substrate temperature 300 °C. The precursor gas used was acetylene and for Si incorporation, tetraethyl orthosilicate dissolved in methanol was used. Si atomic percentage in the films was varied from 0% to 19.3% as measured from energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The binding energies of C 1s, Si 2s and Si 2p were determined from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies. We have observed low-macroscopic field electron emission from Si-DLC thin films deposited on glass substrates. The emission properties have been studied for a fixed anode-sample separation of 80 μm for different Si atomic percentages in the films. The turn-on field was also found to vary from 16.19 to 3.61 V/μm for a fixed anode-sample separation of 80 μm with a variation of silicon atomic percentage in the films 0% to 19.3%. The turn-on field and approximate work function are calculated and we have tried to explain the emission mechanism there from. It was found that the turn-on field and effective emission barrier were reduced by Si incorporation than undoped DLC.     

Field Emission Properties of Ball-Like Nano-Carbon Thin Films Deposited on Mo Films with Accidented Topography

Ball-like nano-earbon thin films （BNCTs） are grown on Mo layers by microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition （MPCVD） system. The Mo layers are deposited on ceramic substrates by electron beam deposition method and are pretreated by ultrasonically scratching. The optimization effects of ultrasonically scratching pretreatment on the surface micro-structures of carbon films are studied. It is found from field-emission scanning electron microscope （FE-SEM） images and Raman spectra that the surface structures of the carbon films deposited on Mo pretreated are improved, which are composed of highly uniform nano-structured carbon balls with considerable disorder structures. Field emission （FE） measurements are carried out using a diode structure. The experimental results indicate that the BNCTs exhibit good FE properties, which have the turn on field of 1.56 V/μm, and the current density of 1.0mA/cm^2 at electric field of 4.0 V/μm, the uniformly distributed emission site density from a broad well-proportioned emission area of 4 cm^2 are also obtained. Linearity is observed in Fowler Nordheim （F N） plots in higher field region, and the possible emission mechanism of BNCTs is discussed.     

Improved emission stability of HfC-coated carbon nanotubes field emitters

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method was employed to synthesize the Fe-catalyzed carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Hf films were deposited onto the synthesized CNTs, followed by heat treatment at 1200 °C which could form HfC. Field emission properties indicate that the HfC-coated CNTs have good emission current density due to low work function of HfC and also keep stable emission characteristics under poor vacuum owing to the chemical inertness of HfC. Consequently, field emission characteristics of the CNTs can be improved by the HfC-coated surface treatment compared with the synthesized CNTs.     

Field Emission Enhancement of Carbon Nanotubes by Surface Modification

By employing a multi-walled carbon nanotube （MWCNT） film as the substrate, we obtain Fe tipped carbon nanorods or carbon nanoparticles grown on the outer walls of MWCNTs by combining sputtering deposition of Fe films and rf plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition at high temperature. Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy are used to examine the structure of carbon nanorods and carbon nanoparticles. In addition, the formation mechanism is discussed briefly. The electron field emission tests indicate that the turn-on field （at 10μA/cm^2） of the treated MWCNT films decreases from 2.4 V/μm to O. 79 V/μm and the field emission current is relatively stable. The enhanced field enhancement factor, increasing emission densities coming from the grown nanorods and nanoparticles, and H terminated by H plasma a11 are responsible for the enhancement of the field enhancement factor.     

A comparative study of field-emission from different one dimensional carbon nanostructures synthesized via thermal CVD system

Different one dimensional (1D) carbon nanostructures, such as carbon nanonoodles (CNNs), carbon nanospikes (CNSs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been synthesized via thermal chemical vapour deposition (TCVD) technique. The different 1D morphologies were synthesized by varying the substrate material and the deposition conditions. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). FESEM and TEM images showed that the diameters of the CNNs and CNTs were ∼40 nm while the diameters of the CNSs were around 100 nm. Field emission studies of the as-prepared samples showed that CNSs to be a better field emitter than CNNs, whereas CNTs are the best among the three producing large emission current. The variation of field emission properties with inter-electrode distance has been studied in detail. Also the time dependent field emission studies of all the nanostructures have been carried out.     

Controlled growth and field emission properties of zinc oxide nanopyramid arrays

Single-crystalline, pyramidal zinc oxide nanorods have been synthesized in a large quantity on p-Si substrate via catalyst-free thermal chemical vapor deposition at low temperature. SEM investigations showed that the nanorods were vertically aligned on the substrate, with diameters ranging from 60 to 80 nm and lengths about 1.5 μm. A self-catalysis VLS growth mechanism was proposed for the formation of the ZnO nanorods. The field emission properties of the ZnO nanopyramid arrays were investigated. A turn-on field about 3.8 V/μm was obtained at a current density of 10 μA/cm², and the field emission data was analyzed by applying the Fowler-Nordheim theory. The stability of emission current density under a high voltage was also tested, indicating that the ZnO nanostructures are promising for an application such as field emission sources.     

Enhanced field emission from ZnO nanopencils by using pyramidal Si(1 0 0) substrates

Zinc oxide nanopencil arrays were synthesized on pyramidal Si(1 0 0) substrates via a simple thermal evaporation method. Their field emission properties have been investigated: the turn-on electric field (at the current density of 10 μA/cm²) was about 3.8 V/μm, and the threshold electric field (at the current density of 1 mA/cm²) was 5.8 V/μm. Compared with similar structures grown on flat Si substrates, which were made as references, the pyramidal Si-based ZnO nanopencil arrays appeared to be superior in field emission performance, thus the importance of the non-flat substrates has been accentuated. The pyramidal Si substrates could not only suppress the field screening effect but also improve the field enhancement effect during the field emission process. These findings indicated that using non-flat substrates is an efficient strategy to improve the field emission properties.     

Diamond coating deposition by synergy of thermal and laser methods—A problem revisited

Diamond coatings were deposited by synergy of the hot filament CVD method and the pulse TEA CO₂ laser, in spectroactive and spectroinactive diamond precursor atmospheres. Resulting diamond coatings are interpreted relying on evidence of scanning electron microscopy as well as microRaman spectroscopy. Thermal synergy component (hot filament) possesses an activating agent for diamond deposition, and contributes significantly to quality and extent of diamond deposition. Laser synergy component comprises a solid surface modification as well as the spectroactive gaseous atmosphere modification. Surface modification consists in changes of the diamond coating being deposited and, at the same time, in changes of the substrate surface structure. Laser modification of the spectroactive diamond precursor atmosphere means specific consumption of the precursor, which enables to skip the deposition on a defined substrate location. The resulting process of diamond coating elimination from certain, desired locations using the CO₂ laser might contribute to tailoring diamond coatings for particular applications. Additionally, the substrate laser modification could be optimized by choice of a proper spectroactive precursor concentration, or by a laser radiation multiple pass through an absorbing medium.     

High-field electron emission of carbon nanotubes grown on carbon fibers

Carbon nanotubes with uniform density were synthesized on carbon fiber substrate by the floating catalyst method. The morphology and microstructure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The results of field emission showed that the emission current density of carbon nanotubes/carbon fibers was 10 μA/cm² and 1 mA/cm² at the field of 1.25 and 2.25 V/μm, respectively, and the emission current density could be 10 and 81.2 mA/cm² with the field of 4.5 and 7 V/μm, respectively. Using uniform and sparse density distribution of carbon nanotubes on carbon fiber substrate, the tip predominance of carbon nanotubes can be exerted, and simultaneously the effect of screening between adjacent carbon nanotubes on field emission performance can also be effectively decreased. Therefore, the carbon nanotubes/carbon fibers composite should be a good candidate for a cold cathode material.     

Enhancement of electron field emission by carbon coating on vertically aligned Si nanowires

Electron field emission properties of vertically aligned Si nanowires, synthesized by chemically etching p-type Si wafers with different etching times were investigated in detail. Fabrication of Si nanowires was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopic investigation. It was observed that a thin layer of amorphous carbon coating over the grown Si nanowires enhanced the field emission properties significantly.     

Growth of Y-junction bamboo-shaped CNx nanotubes on GaAs substrate using single feedstock

Nitrogen-doped Y-junction bamboo-shaped carbon nanotubes were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition of monoethanolamine/ferrocene mixture on GaAs substrate at 950 °C. The use of monoethanolamine as the C/N feedstock simplifies the experimental arrangement by producing ammonia during the growth process. The structure, morphology and graphitization of as-grown nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CN_x) were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy analysis. TEM analysis indicates that nanotubes have a bamboo-like structure. The nitrogen concentration on as-grown CN_x nanotube was found to be 7.8 at.% by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. XPS analysis also indicated that there are two different types of nitrogen atoms (pyridinic and graphitic) in these materials. The possible growth mechanism of formation of Y-junction CN_x nanotubes was briefly discussed. Field emission measurement suggested that as-grown CN_x nanotubes are excellent emitters with turn-on and threshold fields of 1.6 and 2.63 V/μm, respectively. The result indicated that monoethanolamine proves to be an advantageous precursor to synthesize Y-junction nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes and such nanotubes might be an effective material to fabricate various field emission devices.     

Optical and electrical properties of different oriented CVD diamond films

Due to different oriented diamond films having different properties, in this paper optical and electrical properties of different oriented diamond films have been investigated. The measured results indicate diamond films are of high quality and the properties of the (0 0 1)-oriented diamond film are better than those of the (1 1 1)-oriented one. Refractive index and extinction coefficient of (0 0 1)-oriented diamond film in the wavelength range of 2.5-12.5 μm is 2.391 and in the order of 10⁻⁵, respectively. And for the (1 1 1)-oriented one it is 2.375 and in the order of 10⁻⁴. The dark current of the (0 0 1)-oriented diamond film is 33.7 nA under an applied electric field of 100 kV/cm. The resistivity of the (0 0 1)-oriented diamond film obtained is about 2.33 × 10¹⁰ Ω cm. The current of (0 0 1)-oriented diamond film is almost no change with the time testing.     

The approach to diamond growth on levitating seed particles

We demonstrate the approach of diamond growth on levitating seed particles in a rf plasma. We introduce a hot filament chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique into the rf plasma chamber in order to obtain improved crystal growth. Firstly, we confirmed diamond nucleation on seed particles placed on a Si substrate using the hot filament CVD. The deposition conditions, namely the total pressure and the rf power, were chosen so that they correspond to particles levitation conditions. We observe that a hydrogen pre-treatment on the seed particles improves the nucleation. Secondly, we confirm the levitation of particles at high temperatures. Fine particles levitated in a plasma are particularly sensitive to thermophoretic effects due to inhomogeneities in the gas heating. Therefore, proper heating procedures are required for successful particles levitation.     

Field emission properties of carbon nanotube film using a spray method

We fabricated carbon nanotube (CNT) emitters by a spray method using a CNT suspension with ethanol. Indium with a low melting pointing metal or indium tin oxide (ITO) was deposited on the glass substrate. The CNTs were sprayed on these layers and thermally annealed. The sprayed CNTs on an ITO were obtained a high emission current density, field enhancement factor, and a uniform emission pattern than the sprayed CNTs on an ITO layer. We found that the sprayed emitters on the indium layer had good field emission characteristics because of the strong adherence between the metal layer and CNTs.     

Enhanced diamond nucleation on copper substrates by graphite seeding and CO2 laser irradiation

Diamond nucleation on copper (Cu) substrates was investigated by graphite seeding and CO₂ laser irradiation at initial stages of the combustion-flame deposition. A graphite aerosol spray was used to generate a thin layer of graphite powders (less than 1 μm) on Cu substrates. The graphite-seeded Cu substrates were then heated by a continuous CO₂ laser to about 750 °C within 1 min. It was found that diamond nucleation density after this treatment was more than three times as much as that on the virgin Cu substrates. As a consequence, diamond films up to 4 μm were obtained in 5 min. The enhancement of diamond nucleation on the graphite-seeded Cu substrates was attributed to the formation of defects and edges during the etching of the seeding graphite layers by the OH radicals in the flame. The defects and edges served as nucleation sites for diamond formation. The function of the CO₂ laser was to rapidly heat the deposition areas to create a favorable temperature for diamond nucleation and growth.     

Effect of temperature on the electron field emission from aligned carbon nanofibers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Effect of temperature and aspect ratio on the field emission properties of vertically aligned carbon nanofiber and multiwalled carbon nanotube thin films were studied in detail. Carbon nanofibers and multiwalled carbon nanotube have been synthesized on Si substrates via direct current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique. Surface morphologies of the films have been studied by a scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and an atomic force microscope. It is found that the threshold field and the emission current density are dependent on the ambient temperature as well as on the aspect ratio of the carbon nanostructure. The threshold field for carbon nanofibers was found to decrease from 5.1 to 2.6 V/μm when the temperature was raised from 300 to 650 K, whereas for MWCNTs it was found to decrease from 4.0 to 1.4 V/μm. This dependence was due to the change in work function of the nanofibers and nanotubes with temperature. The field enhancement factor, current density and the dependence of the effective work function with temperature and with aspect ratio were calculated and we have tried to explain the emission mechanism.     

Platelet adhesion on phosphorus-incorporated tetrahedral amorphous carbon films

The haemocompatibility of phosphorus-incorporated tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C:P) films, synthesized by filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique with PH₃ as the dopant source, was assessed by in vitro platelet adhesion tests. Results based on scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurements reveal that phosphorus incorporation improves the wettability and blood compatibility of ta-C film. Our studies may provide a novel approach for the design and synthesis of doped ta-C films to repel platelet adhesion and reduce thrombosis risk.     

Field emission from nano-patterned amorphous carbon

Electron emission from nano-patterned amorphous carbon is realized in this paper. The patterned carbon consists of islands with size of tens of nanometers, and is formed by etching uniform carbon film in oxygen plasma using a bismuth island-like film as the mask. Uniform and stable electron emission is reproducibly obtained, and the emission efficiency is above 2% at an anode voltage of 3 kV. Small carbon particles between large islands are supposed to be necessary for stable electron emission.