Field emission properties of composite nano-Au/DLC films prepared by CVD technique

Nanocrystalline gold incorporated diamond-like carbon (nano-Au/DLC) films were deposited by capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) r.f. chemical vapour deposition (CVD) technique. Gold content in the DLC matrix was controlled by the amount of argon in the argon + methane mixture in the plasma. Field emission properties of these films were studied critically. Bonding environment (sp2/sp3 ratio) in these films was obtained from Raman measurements. Modification of the surface with the incorporation of gold nanocrystallites and associated modulation of sp2/sp3 ratio in the films culminated in improved field emission properties. Fowler–Nordheim model was used to ascertain the work function (ϕ) which varied between 19 and 64 meV. The field factor (β) varied between 172 and 1050.