Side electron emission device using a composite of carbon nanofibers and aluminum

• Published in: Thin solid films 2009-11, Vol.518 (2), p.530-533
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Hirotaka, Nakamura, Hironao, Yanagi, Hisao, Kita, Takashi, Yokoyama, Kazuyuki, Magario, Akira, Noguchi, Toru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon nanofiber/aluminum composite; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; 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 electron emission; Field emission, ionization, evaporation, and desorption; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Side electron emission device; Surface and interface electron states
• ISSN: 0040-6090; 1879-2731
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2009.07.032

A new side electron emission device (SEED) was fabricated with carbon nanofiber/aluminum (CNF/Al) composites prepared by the elastomer precursor method. In the SEED, a cross-sectional side face of the CNF/Al composite plate was perpendicularly placed onto an anode surface by inserting an insulating spacer. Above a certain threshold voltage in a vacuum, field electrons were obtained from the side face of the composite emitter. With increasing content of CNFs in the composite, the threshold voltage decreased and emission currents increased. The current of ~ 8 μA was kept stable up to 93 h under a continuous application of 1 kV. This improved stability as compared to a conventional field emission device was attributed to a reduced damage of CNFs in the SEED structure.