Influence of the growth temperature on structural and electron field emission properties of carbon nanowall/nanotube films synthesized by catalyst-free PECVD

Nanocrystalline graphite films composed of carbon nanowalls and cone-shaped carbon nanotubes have been synthesized without the use of any catalyst by means of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition in the plasma of direct current glow discharge. The effect of growth temperature on the structural and field emission properties of the nanocrystalline graphite films has been studied. It was demonstrated that variation of the surface temperature during plasma synthesis dramatically affects carbon nanowall and nanotube structural features. Moreover, higher growth temperature results in higher stability of the electron field emission properties of nanocrystalline graphite films.