The elementary Fowler-Nordheim-type (FN-type) equation (see Ref. 1) is often used to describe cold field electron emission (CFE) from carbon nanotubes (CNTs), including closed single-walled CNTs of small apex radius. FN-type equations were originally derived to describe CFE from the conduction band of a bulk metal with a flat surface, and use a “flat thick slab” potential-energy model. The following theoretical difficulties have been identified with applying the elementary FN-type equation to CNTs.
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