Enhanced field emission from cerium hexaboride coated multiwalled carbon nanotube composite films: A potential material for next generation electron sources

Journal Article · Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4866990· OSTI ID:22277952

Patra, Rajkumar; Sheremet, E.; Rodriguez, R. D.; Lehmann, D.; Gordan, O. D.; Zahn, D. R. T. ^[1]; Jha, M.; Ganguli, A. K. ^[2]; Schmidt, H. ^[3]; Schulze, S. ^[4]; Schmidt, O. G. ^[3]

---

1. Semiconductor Physics, Technische Universität Chemnitz, 09126 Chemnitz (Germany)
2. Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-16 (India)
3. Material Systems for Nanoelectronics, Technische Universität Chemnitz, 09126 Chemnitz (Germany)
4. Solid Surfaces Analysis, Technische Universität Chemnitz, 09126 Chemnitz (Germany)

Intensified field emission (FE) current from temporally stable cerium hexaboride (CeB{sub 6}) coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on Si substrate is reported aiming to propose the new composite material as a potential candidate for future generation electron sources. The film was synthesized by a combination of chemical and physical deposition processes. A remarkable increase in maximum current density, field enhancement factor, and a reduction in turn-on field and threshold field with comparable temporal current stability are observed in CeB{sub 6}-coated CNT film when compared to pristine CeB{sub 6} film. The elemental composition and surface morphology of the films, as examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray measurements, show decoration of CeB{sub 6} nanoparticles on top and walls of CNTs. Chemical functionalization of CNTs by the incorporation of CeB{sub 6} nanoparticles is evident by a remarkable increase in intensity of the 2D band in Raman spectrum of coated films as compared to pristine CeB{sub 6} films. The enhanced FE properties of the CeB{sub 6} coated CNT films are correlated to the microstructure of the films.

• OSTI ID: 22277952
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 115, Issue 9; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
CARBON NANOTUBES
CERIUM
CERIUM BORIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRON SOURCES
FIELD EMISSION
MICROSTRUCTURE
MORPHOLOGY
RAMAN SPECTRA
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SUBSTRATES
SURFACES
THIN FILMS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X RADIATION