Self-embedded nanocrystalline chromium carbides on well-aligned carbon nanotips

Abstract

Well-aligned carbon nanotips embedded with nanocrystalline chromium carbide were directly grown on a substrate by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. These nanomaterials grew up to about 1 mum long and 60 nm in diameter, yielding a high aspect ratio. In comparison between carbon nanotubes with hollow structure, transmission electron microscopy images show its solid body, which is made of graphite along with nanocrystalline chromium carbide on the tip. These nanomaterials perform well in field emission applications with a turn-on field of 1.38 V/mum and 565 muA/cm(2) at 2.2 V/mum. Our result confirms the possibility of the self-embedded nanocrystalline materials on the top of carbon nanotips. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.