Field emission properties of carbon nanotube emitters dependent on electrode geometry

Field emission properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) emitters dependent on electrode geometry have been systematically studied using two different types of diode electrode configurations. The experimental and simulation results clearly reveal that field emission properties, such as emission current and long-term emission stability, are strongly influenced by the geometry of the electrode configuration. The enhanced local electric field at the periphery of CNT emitters results in high local edge emissions that severely degrade emission current during long-term emission stability test and reduce the emission current density before electrical breakdown.