Field emission characteristics of single wall carbon nanotube rope at the presence of dielectric medium

An abnormal jump of emission current was observed in a single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) rope field emitter, in which two soda-lime glass flakes were set on both sides of SWCNT rope. It gave rise of an apparent enhancement of the emission current after the jump. All these peculiar characteristics of field emission were attributed to the modification of electric field at the presence of glass flakes and its contribution to the selective divergence of electron trajectories. Theoretic analysis and subsequently evidential investigations were carried out to certify the influence of the dimension, separation distance and dielectric constant of the dielectric medium on the I-V characteristics of SWCNT rope, which suggests a feasible way to control the field emission properties from Spindt-type emitters including CNT rope.