Energy distribution of field emission electrons from carbon nanocrystals

Using a field electron microscope and a field electron dispersion energy analyzer, carbon nanocrystals contained in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers are studied. Transition of the emitting nanocrystals into the second stable state has been discovered, corresponding to an emission current and field electron energy distribution of magnitudes lower by nearly an order of magnitude, with an additional low-energy peak. Heating the samples at 750° C restores the initial characteristics of the field electron energy distribution and current-voltage characteristics of the nanocrystals. The forbidden bandwidth of the nanocrystals has been determined.