Nanoscale electron field emissions from the bare, hydrogenated, and graphitelike-layer-covered tetrahedral amorphous carbon films

The nanoscale electron field emissions from the bare, hydrogenated, and graphitelike-layer-covered tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) films were compared and electron field emission is examined. The analysis of Fowler Nordhiem tunneling currents indicate the formation of filament like emission channels within ta-C films and this low emission is due to a high field enhancement arising from conducting nanostructures inside the films.