Self-organized carbon nanotips

Abstract

We have developed a carbon nanostructure, which is comprised of high-density carbon nanotips on a graphite layer. These carbon nanotips, with tip diameters of ∼10 nm, are grown by high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition onto Ni-coated Si using an inductively coupled plasma. The Ni on Si changes into NiSi2 by substrate heating. First, a carbon buffer layer and then a graphene sheet are formed on the NiSi2. Then, the carbon nanotips are grown by a C2H2/H2 plasma on the graphene sheet. The carbon nanotips show good adhesion to the substrate and are almost aligned, with an average length of 110 nm. They exhibit a turn-on field of 0.1 V/μm, a field amplification factor of ∼13 000, a current density of 2 mA/cm2 at a field of 2 V/μm, and uniform electron emission.

Carbon cone arrays by double-bias assisted hot filament plasma chemical vapor deposition

“…Recently, the fabrication of characteristic surfaces for diamond and diamond-like carbon (DLC) has drawn considerable attention due to the excellent physical and chemical properties of these materials [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. With the negative electron affinity, for instance, they have been expected as the most promising field emission materials with a low threshold field to be applied in electron sources, flat panel displays, and a new generation of microwave tubes [9][10][11].…”

“…With the negative electron affinity, for instance, they have been expected as the most promising field emission materials with a low threshold field to be applied in electron sources, flat panel displays, and a new generation of microwave tubes [9][10][11]. In this case, diamond/DLC films should be prepared with desired surface geometries such as cones or tips with high aspect ratio, which is of vita importance to improve the field-emission properties by introducing the enhancement effect of local field near the tips [6][7][8].…”

Study on formation and shape of carbon nanotips depending on ion bombardment

“…Recently, carbon nanotips have become interesting wing to their low turn-on field for field emission and high emission current. It was reported that they exhibited a turn-on field of 0.1 V mm À1 and a current density of 2 mA cm À2 at a field of 2 V mm À1 , which are of the materials with the lowest turn-on field so far [1]. These data indicate that they are the most promising material for field emission display emitters.…”

“…These data indicate that they are the most promising material for field emission display emitters. The carbon nanotips have been successfully synthesized by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on silicon and copper substrates with or without catalysts and the growth mechanism has widely been researched [1][2][3][4]. However, the mechanism has not been well understood.…”

Growth of carbon nanotubes on stainless steel substrates by DC-PECVD

“…It has been reported that the formation of Ni grains during the pretreatment process plays a key role in growing CNTs; when Ni forms alloys such as NiFe, NiCr, etc. (with SUS substrates) or NiSi 2 (with Si substrates), other isomers of carbon such as carbon nanotips are formed instead of CNT [13], and therefore TiN buffer layers with excellent electrical conductivity (resistivity $25 mV cm) and high melting point ($3200 8C) [9] are usually added to prevent the reaction between catalyst layers and substrates [14]. To create uniform Ni particles, NH 3 gas was introduced for 6 min.…”