Synthesis and electron field emission of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes grown on stainless steel substrate

Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) array was synthesized directly on stainless steel (SS) substrates with or without chemical etching or catalyst deposition via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. The effect of chemical etching on the SS substrates resulted in CNTs with uniform diameter and length. Electron field emission properties of CNT arrays synthesized on pristine SS and Ni/Cr coated SS substrates were measured. The results indicated that CNTs synthesized on pristine SS substrate exhibited lower turn-on electric field, lower threshold electric field, and a higher field enhancement factor as compared to the CNTs synthesized on Ni/Cr coated SS. The robust contact between the CNTs and the SS substrate resulted in the improved stability during the field emission.