Electron field emission from carbon nanoparticles prepared by microwave-plasma chemical-vapor deposition

Carbon nanoparticles were prepared from H-2 and CH4 at various temperatures . The carbon nanoparticles were well graphitized, and the degree of graphit ization increased with increasing growth temperature. Field-emission measur ements showed that the carbon nanoparticles were excellent electron field e mitters, comparable to carbon nanotubes. The field-emission properties beca me better with increasing growth temperature, and the threshold fields of t he carbon nanoparticles deposited at 400, 500, 670 degreesC were 3.2, 3, an d 1 V/mum, respectively. The low-threshold field of the carbon nanoparticle s is attributed to the field-enhancement effect and the higher degree of gr aphitization. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.