Investigation on the Plasma-Induced Emission Properties of Large Area Carbon Nanotube Array Cathodes with Different Morphologies

• Main Authors: Liu Liang, Liao Qingliang, Qin Zi, Zhang Zheng, Qi Junjie, Zhang Yue, Huang Yunhua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2011-01-01
• Series: Nanoscale Research Letters
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Chemical vapor deposition; Plasma-induced emission; High-intensity electron beams
• Online Access: http://www.nanoscalereslett.com/content/6/1/40
• ISSN: 1931-7573; 1556-276X

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Large area well-aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays with different morphologies were synthesized by using a chemical vapor deposition. The plasma-induced emission properties of CNT array cathodes with different morphologies were investigated. The ratio of CNT height to CNT-to-CNT distance has considerable effects on their plasma-induced emission properties. As the ratio increases, emission currents of CNT array cathodes decrease due to screening effects. Under the pulse electric field of about 6 V/&#956;m, high-intensity electron beams of 170&#8211;180 A/cm² were emitted from the surface plasma. The production mechanism of the high-intensity electron beams emitted from the CNT arrays was plasma-induced emission. Moreover, the distribution of the electron beams was in situ characterized by the light emission from the surface plasma.</p>