Electrophoretic Deposition and Field Emission Properties of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes were dispersed in isopropyl alcohol solution containing 2times10^-5 mol/L dissolved Mg(NO₃) ₂middot6H₂O. The nanotubes were deposited on the conducting substrates as field emitters with electrophoretic deposition method. Some carbon nanotubes film specimens with different thickness were obtained by adjusting the deposition time. The field emission properties have been tested with a diode structure below 1times10^-4 Pa. CNTs film deposition thickness around 1.4 mum showed higher field emission current. During the electrophoretic deposition process, the magnesium hydroxide formatted too. The metal hydroxide existing in the carbon nanotube film and on the substrates, would affect on the field emission properties evidently