Authors : Cheng-Kuang Huang, Rui Zhu, Qiang Fu, Qing Zhao and Dapeng Yu
Abstract: Carbon Nano Tube (CNT) planar field emitters werefabricated on a SiO2/Si substrate. Theanode, cathode and CNT all lay onthesame substrate for thepromisingadvantage of intergratibility with planartechnology. The emission currentwas acquired in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Despite the asymmetry (tip-electrode) of our field emission sample, a symmetrical I-V curve consistent with the fowler-nordheim theory was acquired. Using Zener theory on quantum tunneling in insulators, the observed phenomenon was explained to be a possible leakage current through the insulating SiO2 instead of real field emission. Moreover, the simulated local electric fields at the emitter apex exclude the possibility of an accountable emission current. Our results are of great importance in studying planar field emission since it draws attention to avoid mistaking leakage current for the actual field emission currentin planar field emission devices.
Cheng-Kuang Huang, Rui Zhu, Qiang Fu, Qing Zhao and Dapeng Yu, 2017. Planar Field Emission Current from Individual Carbon Nanotubes. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 12: 3036-3041.