Structural modification and enhanced electron emission from multiwalled carbon nanotubes grown on Ag/Fe catalysts coated Si-substrates

► Microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition technique is used to grow multiwalled carbon nanotubes. ► Fe and Ag were used as the main catalyst and as a co-catalyst respectively. ► Growth of carbon nanotubes is described on the basis of solubility of these catalysts. ► Ag-Fe catalyzed CNTs were found to be less defective as compared to Fe catalyzed CNTs. ► Electron emission from Ag-Fe catalyzed CNTs was much stronger as compared to Fe catalyzed CNTs.