Deduction of work function of carbon nanotube field emitter by use of curved-surface theory

Abstract

The theory given earlier for field emission from a curved surface has been extended to use the parameter d characterizing the energy distribution. Measurement of the curvature of the Fowler–Nordheim plot together with d for the same emitter enables the work function of the surface to be deduced, together with emitter radius, notional surface field, effective solid angle of emission and supply factor. For this calculation an assumed form of potential distribution was used, but it is desirable to repeat the calculation with a potential obtained from atomic-scale simulation.