High field emission performance of point-typed field emitters fabricated using carbon nanotubes on graphite rods

We demonstrated the fabrication of point-typed field emitters by using carbon nanotube films on graphite rods and investigated their field emission properties. The field emitter showed an increased emission current and an improved long-term emission stability after edge polishing process. The highest emission current of the field emitter was increased from 2.0 mA to 4.3 mA (1.1 A/cm²). The field emitter with edge polishing process indicated a nearly negligible degradation of emission current in 20 h. It is considered that the high field emission performance of the field emitter is caused by the suppressed edge emission after edge polishing process. As a result, the field emitters have the higher emission current, lower field enhancement factor, and higher emission stability compared to the pristine emitter.