Metallic Few-Layer Flowerlike VS2 Nanosheets as Field Emitters

We report first‐principles DFT calculations of the single‐layer VS2 work function, the experimental synthesis of flower‐like few‐layer‐thick VS2 nanosheets by a simple one‐step hydrothermal method, and the investigation of their field emission properties. The turn‐on field required to draw emission current densities of 1 and 10 μA/cm2 were 4 and 5.01 V/μm, respectively. The observed turn‐on field values are attributed to the high field enhancement factor (ca. 2500), which is due to presence of sharp protrusions in the VS2 nanosheets. Furthermore, the field‐emission current stability of the VS2 emitter shows stable behavior over a period of 12 h. Further, DFT calculations show that the work function (f) of the single‐layer VS2 emitter is 6.01 eV. We report first‐principles DFT calculations of the single‐layer VS2 work function, the experimental synthesis of flower‐like few‐layer‐thick VS2 nanosheets by a simple hydrothermal method, and its field emission properties.