Vertical aligned carbon nanotubes grown on Au film and reduction of threshold field in field emission

Vertical aligned carbon nanotubes were synthesized on quartz glass and Au f ilm by catalytic decompositon of ferrocene and xylene. Morphological differ ences between aligned nanotubes grown on the two substrates are studied and discussed through SEM images. Field emission testing shows that aligned na notubes grown on Au have a lower threshold field than those grown on quartz glass. This reduction of threshold field indicates a new way to improve fi eld emission properties through the selection of a highly conductive growth substrate for carbon nanotubes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.