Nanoscale phonon drag as a part of low-field electron emission mechanism for nanocarbons

A new model of low-field electron emission is proposed, presumably applicable for nanostructured materials possessing neither the quality of low work function nor capability of field enhancement at high-aspect-ratio elements. In accordance with the model, hot-electron emission is ultimately driven by thermoelectric phenomena developing near nanosized emission centers. Numerical estimates were performed for C island films on silicon, previously showed to exhibit low-field emission ability.