Study on structures and electron field emission of nitrogenated carbon nanotips grown by plasma-enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition

Nitrogenated carbon nanotips (NCNTPs) with different structures were synthesized by plasma-enhanced hot filament chemical vapor deposition under different time using methane, nitrogen and hydrogen as the reaction gases. The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the NCNTPs are amorphous structure and they have significant changes in the morphologies and components with the growth time. The electron field emission (EFE) from NCNTPs was measured and the results show that the current density increases from about 200 to 2800 mu A/cm(2) at the field of 12 V/mu m depending on their structures and components. According to the growth conditions, the characterization results and the electronic structure of amorphous carbon, the changes in the structures, components and work function of NCNTPs were analyzed. Combined the work function with the characterization results, the EFE properties of NCNTPs were studied. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.