J Mater Sci Technol ›› 2006, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (05): 677-680.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Field Emission Characteristics of Conducting Polymer Films Conditioned by Electric Discharge

Guohong LAI, Zhenglin LI, Lan CHENG, Junbiao PENG   

  1. Key Laboratory of Specially Functional Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
  • Received:2005-07-28 Revised:2005-12-22 Online:2006-09-28 Published:2009-10-10
  • Contact: Junbiao PENG

Abstract: A pure conducting polymer (PANI-CSA) film conditioned by an electric discharge was tentatively utilized as an cathode for emitting electrons under electric fields. The emission of electrons was observed using a phosphor (ZnO:Zn) screen excited by electrons from the conditioned film. The film morphology was investigated using a scanning electron microscope and it was found that undulate whisker-like sites formed on the surface. The emission was presumably due to the undulate whisker-like sites. The field enhancement factor was estimated to be as high as 1150. The electron emitting process of the PANI-CSA film conditioned by electric discharge was also discussed.

Key words: Conducting polymer, Field emission, Electric discharge