Experimental Study of Gas Discharge Using Aligned Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Electrode

The results of an experimental study of corona discharge on aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes electrode in air at atmospheric pressure are presented in this paper. The breakdown voltage and corona pulses on nanotubes electrode are discussed compared with aluminum electrodes. It is found that the breakdown voltage reduced largely by using nanotubes electrode, and the repetition rate of nanotube pulses is much higher than that of metal pulses. The mechanisms of positive and negative corona pulse and the field emission of CNTs are all also discussed in detail. The results of our experimental study provide a basic preparation for the next research on CNTs gas sensor by dc corona with multi-walled carbon nanotubes electrode.