Investigation of field emission properties of nanorods formed on nanostructured laminated films

The origin of field emission of nano-crystalline diamond/carbon nanowall (ND/CNW) films prepared by DC plasma CVD has been investigated by macroscopic field emission measurements and SEM observation. We found that there is correlation between the field enhancement factors estimated from Fowler–Nordheim plots and shape parameters of the highest nanorods of ND/CNW films deposited at various deposition times. In addition, it was found that emission site densities were almost independent to the deposition time although the deposition time changed the total nanorod densities by over a factor of ten. We concluded that the origin of field emission of ND/CNW films derives from a part of the highest nanorods which mainly grow during CNW deposition.

Research Highlights
► We examined the origin of field emission of ND/CNW films.
► We correlated the highest nanorods shape on ND/CNW and the field enhancement factors.
► The deposition time changed the nanorod densities by over a factor of ten.
► Emission site densities were almost independent to the CNW deposition time.
► We concluded that the field emission is due to a part of the highest nanorods.