Numerical simulations of field emission characteristics of open CNT.

Abstract Numerical simulations on field emission properties of an open single-walled carbon nanotube with radius r = 1 nm have been carried out. Using finite element method, we have calculated the local electric field Floc and field enhancement factor γ distribution over the surface of the open CNT. From these calculations, we plot theoretical current-voltage characteristics and assess effective field characteristics for CNT with wall thickness w = 0.2 nm and height h = {3, 11, 101, 1001} nm. It was revealed that the maximum emission current did not change when applied field at the top of the CNT corresponds to the scaled barrier field f = 0.45. Obtained values of effective emission area are in good agreement with surface area, which has the highest field enhancement factor. In addition, we have plotted a “map” of maximum field enhancement factor γa for open CNTs with various wall thickness - w ϵ [0.1; 0.9] nm and heights h ϵ [ 11 ; 1001] nm. It was shown that maximum field enhancement factor is a nonlinear function of h/r and h/w ratios.