Vertically aligned diamond-graphite hybrid nanorod arrays with superior field electron emission properties

Abstract

A “patterned-seeding technique” in combination with a “nanodiamond masked reactive ion etching process” is demonstrated for fabricating vertically aligned diamond-graphite hybrid (DGH) nanorod arrays. The DGH nanorod arrays possess superior field electron emission (FEE) behavior with a low turn-on field, long lifetime stability, and large field enhancement factor. Such an enhanced FEE is attributed to the nanocomposite nature of the DGH nanorods, which contain sp2-graphitic phases in the boundaries of nano-sized diamond grains. The simplicity in the nanorod fabrication process renders the DGH nanorods of greater potential for the applications as cathodes in field emission displays and microplasma display devices.

Enhanced Field Emission from Ultrananocrystalline Diamond-Decorated Carbon Nanowalls Prepared by a Self-Assembly Seeding Technique

“…Each set of plots is fitted with two straight lines, suggesting the Fowler–Nordheim (F–N) tunneling mechanism . Such two different slopes have often been explained by emission from two different sites due to the presence of multiple materials or from multiple sites in a material. ,− The possible barrier between different materials has particularly been mentioned. , In our result, the steep slope at low fields is attributed to emission from defect levels in diamond nanoparticles arising from sp 2 carbon at grain boundaries because of the dependence of TOF on the grain density and the simulated field distribution. For the gentle slope at high fields, there are various possible processes such as emission from other phases (CNWs, diamond), emission from different defect levels in diamond nanoparticles, and space-charge limitation in a surface region.…”

Nanoscale Investigation on the Improvement of Electrical Properties of Boron-Doped Diamond Nanostructures for High-Performance Plasma Displays

“…Due to its high secondary electron emission coefficient, large thermal conductivity, good chemical inertness, and high durability, the thin-film diamond has been widely investigated as a cathode for PD. − The electrically insulating nature of diamond limits its use, so it is significant to look for highly electrically conductive diamond films for PD. On the other hand, the fabrication of 1D nanostructures in diamonds has the potential to improve their electrical properties . Nanostructuring of diamonds can be achieved using a top–down approach such as wet chemical route, , template-assisted etching, template-free etching, − and random mask-less etching, to achieve nanostructures in the form of nanocones, nanopillars, and nanowires.…”