17.4: Electron field emission from a Tetrapod-like ZnO film deposited on metal mesh by DC electrophoresis

A direct current (DC) electrophoresis deposition method (EPD) was used for preparing Tetrapod-like ZnO film cathode on stable and electrically conducting metal mesh substrates. Field-emission measurement reveals that the tetrapod-like ZnO film deposition on metal mesh posses a good emission property with very low turn-on electric fields of 1.95V/μm and low threshold field of ~3.8V/μm (for current density of 1mA/cm²). Furthermore, large emission current densities of 2.2 mA/cm² were obtained at reasonably low fields of less than ~4.9 V/μm. These enhanced emission properties are attributed to the high-conductivity, stable nature of the mesh substrate onto which the Ag paste films are attached and weaker field-screening effect.