Effect of patterned and aligned carbon nanotubes on field emission properties

The field emission (FE) properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) films with different morphologies were simulated and examined. Based on the FE mechanism of aligned CNTs’ emitter the theoretical analysis exhibited the following relations: the FE enhancement factor with the distance between the emitters, the electric field with work function, and the work function with FE enhancement factor. Using the structure-induced CNTs growing method and theoretical results the direction of aligned CNTs could be controlled and the special morphology with different aligned CNTs’ film could be fabricated. Comparing to the experimental results (the medium density and patterned CNTs’ emitters) with the theoretically calculating results the I–V curves had the same trend with only 0.05 mA deviation. Based on the better experimental methods and means the accurate of formula could be further improved by modified the FE properties (Φ, β).

► The field emission properties of three types CNTs films were simulated and examined.
► The direction of aligned CNTs was controlled and fabricated.
► The I–V curves of the experimental and calculating results shown the same trend.
► The FE properties of CNTs were strongly depended on the emitter structure.