Field emission properties of diamond and carbon nanotubes

Both diamond and carbon nanotubes are efficient field emitters. Both materials can emit electrons at very low electric fields (3-7 V/mum for a current density of 10 mA/cm(2)). Moreover, nanotube emitters are capable of delivering very high emission currents densities, with current density routinely exceeding 1 A/cm(2). Improvements of emission uniformity are critical in realizing the potential of these carbon materials in enabling practically useful cold cathode devices. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.