Field emission of copper nanowires grown in polymer ion-track membranes
Abstract
Field emission properties of randomly distributed copper nanowires are presented. The wires were potentiostatically deposited into the pores of polycarbonate membranes produced by the ion-track etch technique. The diameter and length of the vertically aligned wires with number densities between 106 and 108 wires/cm2 were in the range of 210-330 nm and 8-18 μm, respectively. By means of field emission scanning microscopy, emission site densities between 0.4 × 105 cm-2 and 1.4 × 105 cm-2 were obtained for nA currents at 6 V/μm. Two-thirds of the nanowire emitters showed Fowler-Nordheim behaviour with an average field enhancement factor of β = 245, which is about three times higher than expected for a cylindrical wire geometry with a half-sphere tip.
- Publication:
-
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B
- Pub Date:
- April 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.nimb.2005.11.124
- Bibcode:
- 2006NIMPB.245..337M
- Keywords:
-
- Field emission;
- Copper;
- Nanowires;
- Heavy-ion irradiation;
- Ion-track etch technique;
- Polymeric membrane;
- Field emission scanning microscopy;
- 79.70.+q;
- Field emission ionization evaporation and desorption