Electron transferring from titanium ion irradiated carbon nanotube arrays into vacuum under low applied fields

Field emission characteristics of carbon nanotube arrays synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition on iron ion pre-bombarded silicon substrate are enhanced by titanium ion irradiation. A pronounced degradation of turn-on electric field of 0.305 V/μm and threshold field, of which the lowest value is only 1.054 V/μm, about 0.482 V/μm at the dose of 5 × 1016 ions/cm2 is as an expression of this enhancement. Scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Photoelectron spectrometer and transmission electron microscopy are measured for comparison before and after the Ti ion irradiation of the carbon nanotube arrays, and the results reveal that the formation of carbon nanorod/nanotube heterostructure during ion irradiation plays a dominative role in the promotion of the field emission properties. However, high-dose irradiating transaction on carbon nanotube arrays will exert repulsive effects on the field emission characteristics for the introduction of severe structural damage. Additionally, the longtime eminent stability behaviors under high applied fields have provided a possibility for the potential application of field emission flat panel display or electron emitters based on carbon nanotube arrays.