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Light Emission from Carbon Nanotubes Induced by Field Electron Emission from Oriented MWCNT Arrays Accompanied by Re-Deposition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

R. Nanjundaswamy
Affiliation:
UTD-Nanotech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75086
Al. A Zakhidov
Affiliation:
UTD-Nanotech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75086
M. Zhang
Affiliation:
UTD-Nanotech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75086
S. B. Lee
Affiliation:
UTD-Nanotech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75086
W. M. Sampson
Affiliation:
UTD-Nanotech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75086
A. N. Obraztsov
Affiliation:
UTD-Nanotech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75086
A. Cunningham
Affiliation:
UTD-Nanotech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75086
A. A. Zakhidov
Affiliation:
UTD-Nanotech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75086
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Abstract

Well-ordered aligned arrays of multiwalled carbon nanotubes were synthesized by the catalytic thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in acetylene gas at the atmospheric pressure. Abrupt spark–type light emission spots and release of the carbon nanotubes from the cathode and succeeding deposition onto the anode without decomposition has been detected above the threshold electron emission current. Spectral analysis of the light showed that the spectra consist of a background similar to blackbody radiation and a set of sharp lines identified with the radiative transitions of excited carbon and iron atoms. Light emission spectra were found to be essentially different depending on the type (AC or DC) of the applied bias voltage and its value. As-grown and re-deposited materials were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the structural properties of the re-deposited carbon nanotubes remained intact, with only negligible amorphization. A mechanism of the spark emission and re-deposition processe is proposed and discussed in terms of fast overheating of CNT, after explosion type melting of Fe-catalyst nanoclusters, followed by CNT transfer from cathode to anode.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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References

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