Field emission and lifetime characteristics of carbon nanotube paste including nitrogen-foaming agent

Azodicarbamide (ADCA) was added to carbon nanotube (CNT) paste to protect it from degradation. This agent produces nitrogen gas (N2) by heating at 190–210 °C, which acts as the anti-oxidant for carbon nanotube paste. The measurements of field emission and lifetime were evaluated in a vacuum chamber with a diode structure with pulsed current (duty of 1/500) mode; the lifetime of protected carbon nanotube samples was about five times greater than that of the pristine ones.