Graphene enhanced field emission from InP nanocrystals

TL;DR

This study demonstrates enhanced field emission from InP nanocrystals on silicon tips when coated with graphene, analyzed through Fowler-Nordheim theory, with implications for nanoelectronic device development.

Contribution

It is the first to show graphene's role in boosting field emission from InP nanocrystals and to analyze the nanojunctions' electrical behavior.

Findings

Graphene coating increases field emission from InP nanocrystals.

InP/p-Si junction exhibits rectifying behavior, while graphene creates an ohmic contact.

Field enhancement factor depends on anode-cathode spacing.

Abstract

We report the observation of field emission from InP nanocrystals epitaxially grown on an array of p-Si nanotips. We prove that field emission can be enhanced by covering the InP nanocrystals with graphene. The measurements are performed inside a scanning electron microscope chamber with a nano-controlled W-thread used as an anode. We analyze the field emission by Fowler-Nordheim theory and find that the field enhancement factor increases monotonically with the spacing between the anode and the cathode. We also show that InP/p-Si junction has a rectifying behavior, while graphene on InP creates an ohmic contact. Understanding the fundamentals of such nanojunctions is key for applications in nanoelectronics.