Title :
Increased field emission correlated with thermal conditioning of carbon nanosheets
Author :
Outlaw, R.A. ; Zhao, X. ; Miraldo, P. ; Wang, J.J. ; Holloway, B.C.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Appl. Sci., College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
Abstract :
Strong dependence of carbon nanosheets field emission on the effect of surface adsorbates is presented. Hydrogen, in particular, is the most prevalent surface contaminant that affects the local field and therefore controls the magnitude of electron emission. Conditioning of the carbon nanostructures either by vacuum firing or by resistive heating provides a progressive and dramatic improvement in the magnitude, stability and repeatability of the field emission. Based on the results, a model of site partitioning and localization of hydrogen in carbon nanosheet is proposed.
Keywords :
adsorbed layers; carbon; electron field emission; firing (materials); heat treatment; hydrogen; nanostructured materials; surface contamination; surface treatment; C; H; carbon nanosheets; carbon nanostructures; electron emission; field emission; hydrogen; local field; localization; resistive heating; site partitioning; surface adsorbates; surface contaminant; thermal conditioning; vacuum firing; Bonding; Carbon dioxide; Electron emission; Firing; Gases; Hydrogen; Nanostructured materials; Surface contamination; Surface morphology; Temperature;
Conference_Titel :
Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference, 2005. IVNC 2005. Technical Digest of the 18th International
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8397-4
DOI :
10.1109/IVNC.2005.1619608
