Formation and field-emission of carbon nanofiber films on metallic nanowire arrays

Carbon nanofiber films were for the first time synthesized on metallic nano wire array composites using a microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor depo sition system with a mixture of methane and hydrogen. The results were exam ined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy a nd showed that the diameters of carbon nanofibers were of 40-60 nm. This in dicates that nickel nanowires not only serve as catalysts to decompose the hydrocarbons and to form carbon nanofibers but also function as an electric al conductor for other advanced applications. The electron field emission o f carbon nanofibers took place at fields above 1.5 V/mu m with an observed emission current density up to 1mA/cm(2) at 3 V/mu m. This result suggests that carbon nanofiber films are promising candidates for field-emission dev ices. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S1099-0062(98)11-070-2. All rig hts reserved.