Quantum mechanics

Diamond

Composite number

Engineering

Field electron emission

Materials science

Graphene

Carbon fibers

Chemical engineering

Physics

Nanotechnology

Carbon nanotube

Composite material

Electron

Thermal stability

Thermionic emission

Engineering physics

Applied Sciences

Field emission electron sources in vacuum electronics are largely considered to achieve faster response, higher efficiency and lower energy consumption in comparison with conventional thermionic emitters. Carbon nanotubes had a leading role in renewing attention to field emission technologies in the early 1990s, due to their exceptional electron emitting properties enabled by their large aspect ratio, high electrical conductivity, and thermal and chemical stability. In the last decade, the search for improved emitters has been extended to several carbon nanostructures, comprising carbon nanotubes, either individual or films, diamond structures, graphitic materials, graphene, etc. Here, we review the main results in the development of carbon-based field emitters.

Field Emission from Carbon Nanostructures