Abstract
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were coated, using atomic layer deposition, with a thin layer of ZnO and subsequently annealed. Studies of the morphologies of the ZnO-coated CNTs revealed no significant change in the internal structures (multiwalled graphite sheets) and the diameters of the CNTs, but the ZnO appeared to form bead-shaped single crystalline particles attaching to the surface of the nanotubes. The electron field-emission properties of the ZnO-coated CNTs were dramatically improved over both uncoated CNTs and ZnO nanowires. It is reasoned that numerous ZnO “nanobeads” on the surface of the nanotubes serve as additional emission sites, in addition to the tips of CNTs, and result in the enhancement of electron field emission.
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2194112
Rights Information
This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in Journal of Applied Physics and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2194112
Keywords
metal oxides, work functions, atomic layer deposition, carbon based materials, chemical elements, thin films, surface collisions, nanowires, nanoparticles, nanotubes
Publication Date
2006
Recommended Citation
Green, Joshua M., Lifeng Dong, Timothy Gutu, Jun Jiao, John F. Conley Jr, and Yoshi Ono. "ZnO-nanoparticle-coated carbon nanotubes demonstrating enhanced electron field-emission properties." Journal of Applied Physics 99, no. 9 (2006): 094308.
Journal Title
Journal of Applied Physics
