Open AccessField emission characteristics of a nanotube-fullerene composite: a theoretical study
Author(s) -
Shunfu Xu,
Huaiwei Feng,
Yuming Zhang,
Weihui Liu,
Chun Li,
Guang Yang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
materials research express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2053-1591
DOI - 10.1088/2053-1591/abf76b
Subject(s) - fullerene , carbon nanotube , field electron emission , composite number , lithium (medication) , materials science , electric field , nanotube , work function , nanotechnology , adsorption , chemical physics , electron , composite material , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , medicine , layer (electronics) , endocrinology
First-principles calculations are used to investigate electronic and field emission characteristics of a nanotube-fullerene composite (a single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) with a C 20 molecule), which indicate that emission currents of the CNT-fullerene composite under external electric fields are roughly four times higher than those of original carbon nanotubes, and its pentagon on the apex is the highest probable positions for electron emission. Moreover, work functions of the CNT-fullerene composite decrease linearly with applied electric fields. The remarkable influence of lithium adsorption on electronic and field emission characteristics of the CNT-fullerene composite is also investigated. After lithium adsorption, the work functions of the CNT-fullerene composite decline evidently, while the emission currents increase polynomially. The emission currents of the adsorption system have been improved by two orders of magnitude (with an order of 10 −4 A), and the lithium adatom above on the apex is the most probable position for emission.