Field electron emission of ZnO nanowire pyramidal bundle arrays

  • H. S. Song
  • , W. J. Zhang
  • , Y. B. Tang
  • , Z. B. He
  • , G. D. Yuan
  • , X. Fan
  • , C. S. Lee
  • , I. Bello
  • , S. T. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A facile hydrothermal method was adopted to in situ grow ZnO nanowire pyramidal bundle arrays on zinc substrates at low growth temperature without the assistance of catalysts and templates. The bundle arrays were shown to form by sticking of nanowires at their tips. Field electron emission characterization of nanowires bundle arrays revealed a very low turn-on electric field of about 2.3 V//μm and a threshold electric field (corresponding to the field electron emission current density of 10 mA/cm 2) of 6.8 V//μm, which are comparable to those observed in carbon nanotube arrays. The bundle arrays also show pronounced long-term field electron emission stability at a high current density. In addition, the formation mechanism of the pyramidal bundled arrays and the origin of the peculiar field electron emission properties were discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2360-2365
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Field electron emission
  • Pyramidal bundle arrays
  • Screening effect
  • ZnO nanowires

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