Improvement of Electron Field Emission in Patterned Carbon Nanotubes by High Temperature Hydrogen Plasma Treatment

In this paper, we report a significant improvement of electron field emission property in patterned carbon nanotubes films by using a high temperature (650 °C) hydrogen plasma treatment. This treatment was found to greatly increase the emission current, emission uniformity and stability. The mechanism study showed that these enhanced properties are attributed to the lowering of the potential barrier and the creation of geometrical features through the removal of amorphous carbon, catalyst particles and the saturation of dangling bonds after such a hydrogen plasma treatment.