Arc plasma synthesized LaB6 nanocrystallite film on various substrates as a field emitter

Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) nanocrystallites/nanowires have been successfully synthesized using gas phase condensation in arc plasma. Our results show that the LaB6 nanowires have ~20 nm diameter and length of several micrometers. The as-synthesized LaB6 nanocrystallites and nanowires are crystalline in nature. Field emission studies were carried out on as synthesized LaB6 nano-powder deposited on W and Re tips and foils, and also on Si foil substrates under ultra high vacuum. The Fowler–Nordheim plots obtained from the current–voltage characteristics are found to be linear in accordance with the quantum mechanical tunneling phenomenon. High value of field enhancement factor (8177) is observed for LaB6 on Re substrate, indicating that the electron emission is from the nanometric features of the LaB6. Our results show that the arc plasma synthesized LaB6 nanocrystalline film exhibits good emission stability as emitter without severe deviations from the initial set value and also a strong ability to withstand the ion bombardment, which is useful for low operation voltage vacuum micro/nano electronic devices.