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LaB6 nanowires and their field emission properties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Han Zhang
Affiliation:
hanzh@physics.unc.edu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Curriculum in Applied and Materials Sciences, 159-A, Phillips Hall, CB#3255,, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States
Jie Tang
Affiliation:
Tang.Jie@nims.go.jp, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
Qi Zhang
Affiliation:
qizhang@physics.unc.edu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics and Astronomy, United States
Gongpu Zhao
Affiliation:
zgp@physics.unc.edu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics and Astronomy, United States
Guang Yang
Affiliation:
yangg@physics.unc.edu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics and Astronomy, United States
Jian Zhang
Affiliation:
jzhang@physics.unc.edu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Physics and Astronomy, United States
Otto Zhou
Affiliation:
zhou@physics.unc.edu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Curriculum in Applied and Materials Sciences, United States
Luchang Qin
Affiliation:
lcqin@physics.unc.edu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Curriculum in Applied and Materials Sciences, United States
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Abstract

For field-induced electron emission, the two factors that enable a high emission current density at low applied voltages are (a) low work function of the emitter and (b) sharpness of the emitter tip. We have developed and applied a chemical vapor deposition method to synthesize single-crystalline LaB6 nanowires for applications as point electron emitters. The crystallographic orientation of the grown nanowires can be controlled by the catalysts used in synthesis and their typical diameter is ranged from below 20 nm to over 100 nm. The nanowires’ tip is either hemispherical or flat top with rectangular cross-section depending on the catalyst being utilized. The field emission properties have also been measured from the single nanowire emitters and the results are discussed for applications as point electron sources used in high performance electron optical instruments such as the transmission and scanning electron microscopes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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