Facile solution synthesis of hexagonal Alq(3) nanorods and their field emission properties

A facile self-assembly growth route assisted by surfactant has been developed to synthesize tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium (Alq(3)) nanorods with regular hexagonal shape and good crystallinity, which exhibit field-emission characteristics with a very low turn-on field of ca. 3.1 V mu m(-1) and a high field-enhancement factor of ca. 1300.