Field emission from aligned high-density graphitic nanofibers

Field emission data from aligned graphitic nanofibers have been obtained. The aligned nanofibers are 50-100 nm in diameter and 6-10 mu m in length, with a density of 10(9)-10(10)/cm(2). The fibers were grown on polycrystalline nickel substrate by plasma-assisted hot filament chemical vapor deposition using a gas mixture of nitrogen and acetylene. The onset of emission current in microampere level was detected at about 1.8 V/mu m with an emission area of 1 mm(2). The Fowler-Nordheim model was used to analyze the data obtained. The field emission current required for flat panel display can be easily achieved at 2.5 V/mu m. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)04241-7].