Thermal desorption and its effects on field emission properties of carbon nanowalls

The thermal desorption behaviors of highly graphitized carbon nanowalls (CNWs) and their effects on CNW field emission properties have been investigated. The hydrocarbon materials are identified to be the main contents adsorbed on CNWs, and the absorption of H2O and O-2, to a large degree, associates with the surface hydrocarbon. These major species desorb from CNW surface at 350-400 degrees C, and after desorption the CNWs present distinctly improved field emission properties. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.