Preparation of ruthenium dioxide nanorods and their field emission characteristics

RuO2 nanometer-sized rods with pyramidal tips have been grown on Cu-coated Si(100) substrates using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The geometry of these nanorods resembles an obelisk with an off-center tip. The aspect ratios of nanorod tips are between 0.55 and 0.73. The field emission properties of the RuO2 nanorods are studied and the stability of its emission current is assessed. The field emission results demonstrate that RuO2 nanorods material is an emitter of potential. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.