Modeling of field emission from nanomaterials and nanostructures

Abstract

Electron field emission from nanomaterials and nanostructures has remained an area of considerable interest to flat-panel display, compact electron source, electron microscopy, vacuum micro- and nano-electronics. Previously, most of the theoretical developments of the field emission are focused on one-dimensional (1D) classical models and metals. The multi-dimensional models for certain materials with unique electronic properties are relatively undeveloped. However, recent field emission experiments using sharp tips and nanomaterials with unique properties have shown great advances in this area. Hence, this thesis presents the development in the field emission theory on various nanomaterials (graphene and diamond) or nanostructures (sharp tip emitter and triple junction).