Fundamental Properties of Nanotube Field EMitters for Large Area electron sources

Kenneth A. Dean, Babu R. Chalamala, Bernard F. Coll, A. Alec Talin, Yi Wei, and James E. Jaskie

Motorola, Inc.,  7700  S. River Parkway, Tempe AZ  85284 

Abstract 

Building successful devices based on carbon field emitters requires a fundamental understanding of emitter behavior during field emission.  Detailed investigations of the field emission behavior of individual single-walled and multi-walled nanotubes have shown several properties that are particularly important for devices.  We describe these properties which include adsorbate interactions, current saturation, field evaporation, and environmental degradation, and we discuss their impact on the design of field emission devices.  We then describe challenges and recent progress in the development of large area field emission sources.

 

 

Correspondence: 

Kenneth A. Dean

Motorola Labs, ML 22

7700 S. River Parkway

Tempe, AZ 85284

Ken.Dean@motorola.com

Ph:   (480) 755-5275

Fax: (480) 755-5066

 

Keywords: carbon nanotube; field emission; field emission display; field emission microscopy