Temperature dependence of the field emission of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The field emission characteristics of multiwalled carbon nanotubes at various temperatures are studied. It is found that the turn-on field and emission current at a given applied electric field are dependent on the ambient temperature of the nanotube. This dependence is believed to be due to the change in the work function of the nanotube on temperature, and the dependence of the work function with temperature is calculated. The direct application of such temperature dependence is a simple and low-cost nanothermometer.