Enhanced field emission of an electric field assisted single-walled carbon nanotube assembly in colloid interstices

Abstract

A novel method for fabrication of vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on indium-tin oxide glass substrates modified with self-assembly monolayer has been developed by using a supporting frame composed of a monolayer of monodispersed silica beads and an alternating current electric field. We have found that SWCNTs can be implanted into the interstices of the colloidal superlattices, which function as supporting scaffold to prevent the SWCNTs from falling down and maintain the SWCNTs at low density. As a result, this vertically aligned SWCNT assembly exhibits enhanced field emission. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.