Rapid Deposition of LDS/Carbon Nanotube Composites: A Novel Nanotube Field Emission Source

A novel method of creating a carbon nanotube-coated surface with excellent field emission properties is presented. The technique involves rapid deposition from a lithium dodecyl sulfate solution and produces a carbonaceous matrix consisting of a nanotube ´skeleton´ surrounded by burnt surfactant residues. The surface of the matrix bristles with protruding nanotube ropes, many of which are normal to the surface. The field emission performance of such a surface compares very favourably with nanotube emitters fabricated by chemical vapor deposition, despite the deposition method being significantly less complicated. Owing to the relatively large separation between each protruding nanotube, the surfaces produced by the method described here have potential for use in a field ionization arrays.