High performance field emission in hybrid carbon nanotube-PDMS composite

ORAL

Abstract

We present a novel method of fabricating flexible carbon nanotube polymer composites by embedding aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) architectures into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer matrix. These structures are easily transferable, electromechanically robust and extremely flexible, and therefore suitable for applications as multifunctional flexible electronic devices. A combination of controlled placement of aligned multi-walled nanotubes on pre-patterned locations and an effective suppression of mutual screening gives these devices impressive field emission properties. With large field emission factors ($\beta \sim $10$^{4})$ and low (sub 1V/$\mu $m) turn-on fields, these composites can easily operate at high current densities ($>$1mA/cm$^{2})$ at relatively low voltages making them also suitable for applications in electrically and mechanically stable flexible sensors and display devices.

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Authors

  • Caterina Soldano

    Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy New York, Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York

  • Swastik Kar

    Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy New York, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York

  • Yung J. Jung

    Northeastern University, Boston MA

  • Saroj Nayak

    Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy New York, Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York

  • Omkaram Nalamasu

  • Pulickel M. Ajayan

    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy New York, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York