Ni3Si2 Nanowires for Efficient Electron Field Emission and Limitations of the Fowler-Nordheim Model

TL;DR

This study demonstrates Ni3Si2 nanowires' promising electron emission properties and discusses the limitations of the Fowler-Nordheim model, emphasizing the need for new models considering quantum effects at the nanoscale.

Contribution

It introduces top-down fabricated Ni3Si2 nanowires for electron emission and critically analyzes the applicability of the Fowler-Nordheim model at the nanoscale.

Findings

Low turn-on electric field achieved

Field enhancement factor can be tailored

Limitations of Fowler-Nordheim model identified

Abstract

The paper reports on top-down nanofabricated Ni3Si2 nanowires and tests of their electron field emission capabilities. The results include low turn on electric field, moderate work function, and the field enhancement factor, customizable through nanofabrication. The paper also reports on the issues ahead in the field of nanowires-based electron mission, as there are quantitative limitations of the applicability of the Fowler-Nordheim model, which will become increasingly apparent as we continue to optimize field emission of electrons. To this end, we suggest adding the studies of surface-to-volume ratio effects of the nanowires as another standard for comparison, in order to lead to the input form of the density of states as quantum effects becoming more prominent.