Characterization of the field emission properties of individual thin carbon nanotubes

Electron emission measurements were conducted on individual carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes had a closed end and their surfaces were thoroughly cleaned. It is shown conclusively that individual carbon nanotube electron emitters indeed exhibit Fowler–Nordheim behavior and have a work function of 5.1±0.1eV for the nanotubes under investigation, which had diameters of 1.4 and 4.9nm.