Hierarchical graphene nanocones over 3D platform of carbon fabrics: A route towards fully foldable graphene based electron source

Abstract

A three dimensional field emitter comprising hierarchical nanostructures of graphene over flexible fabric substrate is presented. The nanostructuring is realized through plasma treatment of graphene, coaxially deposited over individual carbon fiber by means of simple aqueous phase electrophoretic deposition technique. Hierarchical graphene nanocone, acting as a cold electron emitter, exhibits outstanding electron emission performance with a turn-on field as low as 0.41 V μm⁻¹ and a threshold field down to 0.81 V μm⁻¹. Electric field modification around the special woven like geometry of the underlying base fabric substrate serves as the booster to the nanostructured graphene related field amplification at the electron emission site. Superb robustness in the emission stability can be attributed to suppressed joule heating on behalf of higher inborn accessible surface area of graphene nanocone as well as excellent electrical and thermal conductivity of both the graphene and carbon fabrics. Superior flexibility of this high-performance graphene based emitter ensures their potential use in completely foldable and wearable field emission devices.