Carbon nanotubes as electron sources

Abstract

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a unique form of carbon filament/fiber in which the graphene walls roll up to form tubes. They can exhibit either metallic‐like or semiconductor‐like properties. With the graphene walls parallel to the filament axis, nanotubes (single wall metallic‐type or multi‐wall) exhibit high electrical conductivity at room temperature. This high electrical conductivity allied to their remarkable thermal stability has made CNTs one of the most intensely studied material systems for field emission (FE) applications. In this paper we will describe the growth of multiwall CNTs and their application in a range of field emission based systems including their use in SEM sources, emitters for use in microwave amplifiers and as emitters in field emission based displays (FEDs). (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)