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

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. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.