Enhanced field emission of tetrapod zinc oxide in methane

摘要

Tetrapod zinc oxide (T-ZnO), being a kind of nano-scale material, has a large specific surface area and high surface binding energy, which will make it sensitive to ambient gases; hence, the field emission (FE) properties of this ZnO nanomaterial will be influenced by gas adsorption. The effect of methane on the field emission of T-ZnO emitters was investigated. It was found that CH₄ enhanced the field emission substantially. By curve fitting we are able to describe the experimental results adequately as a function of the methane pressure. The increase of the field emission is caused by a lower work function of the ZnO-emitters.