Field emission property of highly ordered monodispersed carbon nanotube arrays

A template-synthesis technique based on self-ordered hexagonal nanopore alu mina templates was applied to synthesize highly ordered carbon nanotube arr ays via thermal decomposition of ethylene with iron as the catalyst electro deposited into the bottom of the pores. The resultant carbon nanotubes are monodispersed and have open ends with uniform sizes. It was found that the insulating oxide layer lying between the carbon nanotubes and the underlyin g aluminum greatly obstructs the electron emission from the carbon nanotube arrays. After the oxide layer was removed, the arrays exhibited excellent field emission properties with a threshold electric field of similar to2.8 V/mum and emission current density of 0.08 mA/cm(2) at 3.6 V/mum. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.