Derivation Of Length Of Carbon Nanotube Responsible For Electron Emission From Field Emission Characteristics

A method for deriving the length of carbon nanotube (CNT) in field emission arrays is proposed. Unlike the direct method of observation using a microscope, this method gathers information from functional measurements. Electron emission characteristics of CNT's printed on glass substrate were measured in a diode configuration. The macroscopic part of the voltage field conversion factor beta was obtained from the relationship between the slope and intercept of the Fowler-Nordheim plot, and also from modeling of the electrodes. The length of the CNT was derived comparing the two values for beta. The estimated length of the CNT agrees with direct measurements.