Fabrication of efficient field emitters with thin multiwalled carbon nanotubes using spray method

Thin multiwalled carbon nanotube (t-MWCNTs)-based field emitters are made by use of a spray method. The number of tube walls is between 2 and 6, with the corresponding outer diameters between 3 and 6 nm. They were dispersed in dichloroethane and sprayed onto metal-deposited indium tin oxide glass. After heat treatment, they were found to be tightly adhered to metal electrode. Excellent field emission characteristics were exhibited, with a large field enhancement factor and low turn-on voltage, comparable to those of single-walled CNTs. However, the t-MWCNTs demonstrated a significantly lower degradation rate than SWCNTs in the emission current. This high emission stability was attributed to their stable edge structures, similar to conventional large-diameter MWCNTs. Therefore, t-MWCNTs could be utilized as an alternative material for field emitters. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.