Enhanced field emission properties of films consisting of Fe-core carbon nanotubes prepared under magnetic field

Films consisting of carbon nanotubes containing iron (CNTs-Fe) were prepared on tungsten substrates for electron field emission. The films were prepared by drying the mixture of the CNTs-Fe with poly [3-octyl-thiophene] (P3OT) or toluene under a magnetic field using a permanent magnet of surface magnetic flux 340 mT. The field emission properties of the films were measured in comparison with the films prepared without the magnetic field. The films prepared under the magnetic field showed better field emission characteristics than those without the magnetic field, and the electric field to generate the required field emission current was significantly decreased by applying the magnetic field in the film preparation process. Microscopic analyses indicated that the magnetic field had the effect of forcing the CNTs-Fe to stand perpendicular to the substrate, which causes the enhanced field emission properties.