Field emission properties of boron and nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes

Field electron emission (FE) properties of boron and nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown in situ on tungsten (W) tips and silicon substrates have been studied. For a total emission current of I mu A, the current density (J) was 4 A/cm(2) at 368 V/mu m for B-doped CNTs and at 320 V/mu m for N-doped CNTs grown on W tips, compared with the value of 1.5 A/cm(2) at 290 V/mu m for undoped CNTs. FE currents upto 400 mu A drawn from both B- and N-doped CNTs are stable for more than 3 h. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.