• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.163-166
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• 2005

Carbon nanotube-copper composite structures were fabricated using composite plating method and their field emission characteristics were investigated. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) synthesized by chemical vapor deposition were used in the present study. It was revealed that turn-on field was about $3.0\;V/{\mu}m$ with the current density of $0.1\;{\mu}A/cm^2.$ We observed relatively uniform emission characteristics as well as stable emission current Carbon nanotube-copper composite plating method is efficient and it has no intrinsic limit on the deposition area. Moreover, it gives strong adhesion between emitters and an electrode. Therefore, we recommend that carbon nanotube-copper composite plating method can be applied to fabricate electron field emitters for large area FEDs and large area vacuum lighting sources.