Interpretation of the field enhancement factor for electron emission from carbon nanotubes.

The local electric fields in the vicinity of the tips of metallic nanotubes are calculated. The variation in the field enhancement factor as a function of internanotube separation, anode-substrate separation, and height and radius of the nanotube is reported. Calculations show that the field induced electron emission current, based on the Fowler–Nordheim theory, is reduced when the intertube separation is less than twice the height of the nanotube. The location of the anode plane is shown to be important when the anode-substrate separation is less than three times the height of the nanotube. The results also predict that the macroscopic threshold field for electron emission should decrease as the anode-substrate separation D decreases. For separations greater than three times the height of the nanotube, the threshold field becomes constant and independent of anode-cathode geometry. Conversely, the manner in which applied electric field is defined is crucial if the results are be understood better. Experimental field emission measurements made on an isolated carbon nanotube confirms the need for a new interpretation of the electric field around stand alone point emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]