Document Type
Presentation
Journal/Book Title/Conference
USU Student Showcase
Publication Date
4-2014
Faculty Mentor
TC Shen
Abstract
Field emission is a phenomenon where electrons are extracted from a conducting material by an external electric field. This effect has been used for electron sources for many applications, from electron microscopes to flat-panel displays. One undesirable feature of field emitters is that they often require high turn-on voltages. One way to improve the field emission is to decrease the tip size. In previous works, single carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with nanometer tip sizes have been used as field emitters, and have achieved currents comparable or higher than commercial field emitters at relatively low operating voltages. However, the single CNT field emitters are not as mechanically robust as their commercial counterparts. In this presentation we will demonstrate different tip shapes formed by elastocapillary self-assembly on patterned CNT pillars. This novel configuration could increase the strength and stability of the field emitter while lowering the turn-on voltage.
Recommended Citation
Pound, Benjamin, "Shaping Carbon Nanotube Forests for Field Emission" (2014). USU Student Showcase. Student Showcase. Paper 111.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/student_showcase/111