Electron emission from carbon nanotube-dispersed MgO layer

A simple secondary-electron-emission (SEE)-based source was fabricated using a carbon-nanotube-dispersed MgO precursor solution. This emission source exhibits a high SEE gain as over 103. In addition, the self-sustaining current was observed even after turning off the primary electron beam, then the emission current could be modulated by a small electric field variation (1.2–2V∕μm). The electron energy spectrum of the self-sustaining emission indicates that the major character of the emission is attributed to the field-enhanced SEE rather than direct field emission.