Enhanced field emission characteristics of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube films grown by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube (CNT) films have been synthesized by simple microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique. The morphology and structures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Morphology of the films was found to be greatly affected by the nature of the substrates. Vertically aligned CNTs were observed on mirror polished Si substrates. On the other hand, randomly oriented flower like morphology of CNTs was found on mechanically polished ones. All the CNTs were found to have bamboo structure with very sharp tips. These films showed very good field emission characteristics with threshold field in the range of 2.65–3.55 V/μm. CNT film with flower like morphology showed lower threshold field as compared to vertically aligned structures. Open graphite edges on the side surface of the bamboo-shaped CNT are suggested to enhance the field emission characteristics which may act as additional emission sites.