Abstract :
MgO-loaded electrospun carbon nanofibers (MgO/CNFs) were prepared by electrospinning a magnesium acetate containing polyacrylonitrile composite followed by stabilization under an air atmosphere at 280 °C and carbonization under a nitrogen atmosphere at 800 °C. In addition to investigating the morphological and material features of the nanofibers, the field emission (FE) characteristics of the carbonized NFs (CNFs), performed in an ultra-high vacuum chamber utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were determined. The results of the investigation show that the MgO/CNFs (195.5% enhancement) display enhanced field electron emission as compared to that of pure CNFs as a result of the existence of a MgO phase. Consequently, it appears that the graphitic structures of CNFs can be tuned, a finding that has significance in studies aimed at developing new field electron emission devices.
