Enhanced field emission properties of single-walled carbon nanotube from dip-coating catalyst

Abstract Here we use a simple method of dip-coating catalyst to prepare single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), and study its cathode field emission property. The field emission performances of SWCNT films are not significantly different when the hydrogen flow quantities are in the range of 10–50 sccm. SWCNT prepared by different catalyst are also used as cathode to test field emission performance. SWCNT fabricated by Mo and Co (SWCNT-MoCo) cathode has a better field emission property than SWCNT prepared by Mo, Co and Fe, with lower Eon and Eth (electric field at the emission current density of 10 μA/cm2 and 0.1 mA/cm2) of 1.95 V/μm and 2.47 V/μm, which is because that SWCNT-MoCo cathode has a higher density of field emitter, so that under the same electric field SWCNT-MoCo cathode has more tips and sites to emit electrons. This method is simple and easy to operate, and the purity of the cathode film is high, with few impurities, which can be further applied in the future.