Based upon the density of states deduced from theoretical calculations, the electron transport mechanism of carbon nanotubes was studied for field emission applications. Attention was focused on how Stone-Wales and vacancy-related defects affected the nanotube emission. The influence was presented in the form of electron traces. The result showed that Stone-Wales defects reduced the nanotube’s emission current, while vacancy-related defects gave rise to it. This phenomenon could be expressed by adding a defect-effect coefficient to the Fowler-Nordheim formula. The detailed relationship between the defect-effect coefficient and defect type and number was presented.

Emission Property of Carbon Nanotube with Defects. G.Wei: Applied Physics Letters, 2006, 89[14], 143111