Abstract
The effect of Ni thickness, growth temperature, and types of substrates on the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNT) was studied using microwave-heated chemical vapor deposition. The diameter and length of CNTs increased with the thickness of nickel films and applied microwave power. A CNT emitter grown on 80-nm-thick Ni at 900 W for 18 min showed an emission characteristic with turn-on field of 0.056 V/μm and current density of 160 mA/cm 2 at 4.5 V/μm.