Field emission from aligned high-density graphitic nanofibers

Field emission data from aligned graphitic nanofibers have been obtained. The aligned nanofibers are 50–100 nm in diameter and 6–10 μm in length, with a density of 109–1010/cm2. The fibers were grown on polycrystalline nickel substrate by plasma-assisted hot filament chemical vapor deposition using a gas mixture of nitrogen and acetylene. The onset of emission current in microampere level was detected at about 1.8 V/μm with an emission area of 1 mm2. The Fowler–Nordheim model was used to analyze the data obtained. The field emission current required for flat panel display can be easily achieved at 2.5 V/μm.