Nanowelding of a multiwalled carbon nanotube to metal surface and its electron field emission properties

Abstract
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs) were manipulated inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope combined with a nano manipulator, and a single MWNT emitter freestanding on a platinum surface was fabricated by nanowelding. The electron field emission properties of the single MWNT were in situ measured at various gap distances in a range from 27 to 442 nm with simultaneous imaging by transmission electron microscopy. Field enhancement factors varying with the gap distance and the thermally enhanced electron emission were observed.