Enhanced field emission characteristics of zinc oxide mixed carbon nano-tubes films

• Published in: Applied surface science 2008-04, Vol.254 (13), p.3787-3792
• Main Authors: Pan, J.Y., Zhu, C.C., Gao, Y.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon nano-tube (CNT); Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Electrical properties of specific thin films; Electrical properties of specific thin films and layer structures (multilayers, superlattices, quantum wells, wires, and dots); Electron and ion emission by liquids and solids; impact phenomena; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Exact sciences and technology; Field emission characteristics; Field emission, ionization, evaporation, and desorption; Physics; Structure and morphology; thickness; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film structure and morphology; Uniformity; Zinc oxide (ZnO)
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2007.12.002

A composite material of Zinc oxide and carbon nano-tubes (ZnO–CNTs) paste was synthesized by mixing multi-wall CNTs, ZnO nano-grains and organic vehicles. The microstructures and the morphologies of screen-printed films were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope. Results show that ZnO flakes geometrically matched with CNTs by filling into the interspaces of CNTs or directly covering upon CNTs. The field emission characteristics of films are found to be greatly effected by ZnO nano-grains. Especially, the turn-on electric field of ZnO–CNT film (1.17 V/μm) which is far lower than that of usual CNT films (1.70 V/μm). Furthermore, except that better emission stability is achieved, brightness and emission uniformity are notably enhanced as well. It can be speculated that the special microstructures of ZnO mixed CNT films dominate the enhanced electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and effective emitters.