Observation of enhanced field emission properties of Au/TiO2 nanocomposite

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2016-05, Vol.122 (5), Article 560
• Main Authors: Patil, Girish P., Bagal, Vivekanand S., Suryawanshi, Sachin R., Late, Dattatray J., More, Mahendra A., Chavan, Padmakar G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Machines; Manufacturing; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-016-0090-z

Simple and low-cost method of thermal annealing was used to decorate Gold (Au) nanoparticles on aligned TiO 2 nanotubes. The aligned TiO 2 nanotubes were decorated by Au nanoparticles with an average diameter of 9, 18 and 28 nm (aligned TiO 2 nanotubes referred as specimen A and TiO 2 nanotubes decorated by Au nanoparticles with average diameter of 9, 18 and 28 nm are referred as specimen B, C and D, respectively). The detailed characterization such as structural, morphological and elemental analysis of TiO 2 and Au/TiO 2 nanocomposite have been carried out using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the meticulous comparative field emission characteristics of the aligned TiO 2 nanotubes and Au/TiO 2 nanocomposite have been performed. The turn-on field defined for the current density of 10 μA/cm 2 has been found to be 3.9, 2.8, 3.2 and 3.7 V/μm for specimen A, B, C and D, respectively. The observed low turn-on field of specimen B has been found to be superior than the other semiconducting nanocomposites reported in the literature. The emission current stability over a period of 3 h is found to be better for all the specimens. To the best of our knowledge, a systematic field emission study of Au/TiO 2 nanocomposite has not been explored. The observed superior field emission study of Au/TiO 2 nanocomposite indicates their possible use in micro/nanoelectronic devices.