Field emission from carbon nanotube emitters fabricated by the metal intermediation layer

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) emitters fabricated by the metal intermediation process were studied. This was intended to allow strong adhesion and high electrical contact between the cathode electrode and MWNT emitters. The process was performed by hot-pressed bonding of a metal layer to a MWNT film surface, where the metal layer was deposited on a main substrate. Through this process, MWNTs have open and sharp ends, and the metal layer and the MWNTs have strong electrical contact. Together with unchanged crystallinity of MWNTs as before the process, these effects improve the field emission properties, resulting in 64% reduction of turn on field and two to three orders of magnitude increase of current density.