High current field emission from carbon nanotube films grown using electroplated Ni catalyst

Carbon nanotube (CNT) films were grown via hot-filament chemical-vapor deposition on silicon substrate covered with electroplated nickel catalyst. This resulted in less crystalline and defect rich carbon nanofibers (CNF). Scanning electron microscopy and FT-Raman spectra of the CNF films showed that a high density of CNFs was formed and that it was constituted of well-ordered graphene layer. High current density of 170 mA/cm² at 7.3 V/μm was obtained from field emission. Emission-stability test carried out at the current density of 20 mA/cm² showed stable emission currents with fluctuation of only 3.4% over 2 hours.