PbS Nanostar-Like Structures as Field Emitters

摘要

The crystalline PbS nanostars were synthesized by thermal decomposition of thioacetamide (TAA) in aqueous solutions of lead acetate and acetic acid at 80 ℃. The structure and morphology of the PbS nanostars have been characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Micro- scopy (TEM). The optical properties of the PbS nanostars have been studied using UV-Visible absorption Spectroscopy (UV- Vis). The field emission investigations have been carried out on the as synthesized PbS nanostars at the base pressure of ~1× 10~(-8) mbar. The turn on field required to draw an emission current density of 1 μA/cm~2 is found to be 1.8 V/mm. The emission current-time plots show good emission current stability of the PbS nanostar emitter over a period of 4 hrs. The results in terms of low turn-on field and long term emission current stability of the PbS nanostars emitter reveals that it can be used in field emission based vacuum microelectronics / nanoelectronic devices.