Emission stability enhancement of a tip-type carbon-nanotube-based field emitter via hafnium interlayer deposition and thermal treatment

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were deposited on a tip-type tungsten substrate via electrophoretic deposition, in which a hafnium thin film was used as an interlayer. The long-term (up to 24 h) emission stability of the CNT-based field emitter was remarkably enhanced when the hafnium interlayer was coated and thermally treated. This is attributed to the enhanced adhesion between the substrate and the CNTs. An x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study and nano-scratch measurement provided a convincing evidence of the increase in the adhesive force. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3695173]