Improvement of field emission characteristics of carbon nanotubes by excimer laser treatment

Abstract

The density of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) deposited by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) is extremely high, which results in screening effect in the electric field. To achieve excellent field emission characteristics. an excimer laser treatment (ELT) was introduced to reduce the density of CNTs, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed reduced densities of the CNTs, and the measurement of electrical characteristics results repealed the improved field emission properties under suitable ELT conditions. The turn-on field decreased from 3 V/mum to 2.1 V/mum. and the emission Current density increased from 5.73 mA/cm(2) to 87.13 mA/cm(2) at the applied field of 5 V/mum.