Field electron emission properties from zinc oxide nanostructures

Abstract

ZnO nanowires have been synthesized on gold coated silicon (100) substrates via a simple carbo-thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) route. The growth process was carried out at three different temperatures; 950°C, 1000°C and 1050°C in argon. The nanostructured ZnO were analyzed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersed X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The field emission properties of the ZnO nanostructures were investigated in a high vacuum environment. The field emission properties of the ZnO nanostructures were analyzed in the light of the Fowler Nordheim theory and results from FESEM, EDX and XRD analyses.