Improved field emission from multiwall carbon nanotubes with nano-size defects produced by ultra-low energy ion bombardment

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were irradiated with ultra-low energy (few eV) nitrogen and hydrogen ions using a microwave discharge. These ultra-low energy plasma-ions remain confined to the nanotube walls, transferring their maximum energy to the carbon atoms, and produce extraordinary structural changes to the carbon nanotube pillars as well as within the carbon nanotubes. Conical shaped emitters and nanotube structures with nano-defects are produced that exhibit remarkable field emission with ultra-low turn-on electric field (∼0.16 V/μm) and a >300-fold increase in the maximum emission current density compared to non-irradiated nanotubes. Doping of nitrogen is also identified due to such irradiation processes.