Efficient field emission from Li-salt functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes on flexible substrates

The authors report extremely low electron field emission thresholds of 0.25 V/mu m from lithium salt functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes adhered to carbon fiber fabric. Crucially, these nanostructured field emitters are flexible, air stable, and produced via a low cost dip-processing method using an aqueous nanotube ink, whereupon the nanotubes spontaneously assemble onto a surface oxidized carbon fiber matrix to form dense mats. The very low emission threshold is rationalized in terms of the morphology of the nanotube mats and the relatively low work function of lithium salt derivated carbon nanotubes.