Enhanced field emission properties from surface-modified 2D Cd(OH) 2 nanocoins

Low turn-on field of 2.1 V/µm was found for the emission current density of 10 µA/cm2 and high current density of 403 µA/cm2 was drawn at an applied field of 3.6 V/µm from Au/Cd(OH)2 nanocoins/Cd(OH)2 microsheets (Au/Cd(OH)2NC/Cd(OH)2MS). The observed low turn-on field was found superior to other gold (Au) nanoparticle decorated semiconducting nanostructures reported in the literature. Also the field emission current stability for the preset value of 1 μA over the period of 3 h is found to be good. The Cd(OH)2 nanocoins were grown on Cadmium (Cd) substrate by simple chemical bath deposition technique. Au nanoparticles with average diameter 11 nm were decorated on surface of the Cd(OH)2 nanocoins by sputtering method. Detail characterization such as structural and morphological analysis of Au/Cd(OH)2NC/Cd(OH)2MS has been carried out using X-ray Diffraction, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope and Transmission Electron Microscope. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis and field emission studies of Au/Cd(OH)2NC/Cd(OH)2MS. Low turn-on field of 2.1 V/µm was found for the emission current density of 10 µA/cm2 and high current density of 403 µA/cm2 was drawn at an applied field of 3.6 V/µm from Au/Cd(OH)2 nanocoins/Cd(OH)2 microsheets (Au/Cd(OH)2NC/Cd(OH)2MS). The Cd(OH)2 nanocoins were grown on Cadmium (Cd) substrate by simple chemical bath deposition technique.