Enhanced Carbon Nanotube Field Emitter With Adsorbed Au Nanoparticles

Field emission was achieved utilizing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs), whose external surface was decorated with Au nanoparticles (NPs). It was found that the average length and diameter of the CNTs were ~4.52 μm and 45 nm, respectively. Au NPs (around 5 nm) were coated onto CNT surfaces for field emission. The turn-ON field and current density of the Au-coated CNTs clearly indicate that the Au NPs considerably enhanced field emission. Au NP decoration effectively decreased the work function and turn-ON field.