Norihiro Shimoi

Plannar light source using a phosphor screen with single-walled carbon nanotubes as field emitters

We developed and successfully fabricated a plannar light source device using a phosphor screen with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as field emitters in a simple diode structure composed of the cathode containing the highly purified and crystalline SWCNTs dispersed into an organic In2O3-SnO2 precursor solution and a non-ionic surfactant. The cathode was activated by scratching process with sandpaper to obtain a large field emission current with low power consumption. The nicks by scratching were treated with Fourier analysis to determine the periodicity of the surface morphology and designed with controlling the count number of sandpapers. The anode, on the other hand, was made with phosphor deliberately optimized by coverage of ITO nanoparticles and assembled together with the cathode by the new stable assembling process resulting to stand-alone flat plane-emission panel. The device in a diode structure has a low driving voltage and good brightness homogeneity in that plane. Furthermore, field emission current fluctuation, which is an important factor in comparing luminance devices too, has a good stability in a simple diode panel. The flat plane-emission device employing the highly purified and crystalline SWCNTs has the potential to provide a new approach to lighting in our life style.

Effect of increased crystallinity of single-walled carbon nanotubes used as field emitters on their electrical properties

Single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNTs) synthesized by arc discharge are expected to exhibit good field emission (FE) properties at a low driving voltage. We used a coating containing homogeneously dispersed highly crystalline SWCNTs produced by a high-temperature annealing process to fabricate an FE device by a wet-coating process at a low cost. Using the coating, we succeeded in reducing the power consumption of field emitters for planar lighting devices. SWCNTs synthesized by arc discharge have crystal defects in the carbon network, which are considered to induce inelastic electron tunneling that deteriorates the electrical conductivity of the SWCNTs. In this study, the blocking of the transport of electrons in SWCNTs with crystal defects is simulated using an inelastic electron tunnelingmodel. We succeeded in clarifying the mechanism underlying the electrical conductivity of SWCNTs by controlling their crystallinity. In addition, it was confirmed that field emitters using highly crystalline SWCNTs can lead to new applications operating with low power consumption and new devices that may change our daily lives in the future.

Mechanochemical approaches to employ silicon as a lithium-ion battery anode

Silicon is essential as an active material in lithium-ion batteries because it provides both high-charge and optimal cycle characteristics. The authors attempted to realize a composite by a simple mechanochemical grinding approach of individual silicon (Si) particles and copper monoxide (CuO) particles to serve as an active material in the anode and optimize the charge-discharge characteristics of a lithium-ion battery. The composite with Si and CuO allowed for a homogenous dispersion with nano-scale Si grains, nano-scale copper-silicon alloy grains and silicon monoxide oxidized the oxide from CuO. The authors successfully achieved the synthesis of an active composite unites the structural features of an active material based on silicon composite as an anode in Li-ion battery with high capacity and cyclic reversible charge properties of 3256 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles.

Numerical analysis of electron emission site distribution of carbon nanofibers for field emission properties.

To obtain optimal field emission (FE) properties, it is important to evaluate FE parameters including the electron emission site α and the field enhancement factor β. However, it is difficult to evaluate α quantitatively because the emitting electrons cannot be observed directly. The authors have aimed to analyze this site using an original architecture with a computation system tool based on the surface charge method, and a three-dimensional model has been employed to calculate FE properties with high accuracy. In this study, to analyze α for determining FE properties, each carbon nanofiber (CNF) model separated by Cr islands which include the minimum area for calculating electric fields by the surface charge method was constructed on the surface of a Ni catalyst. The FE current was simulated with a Fowler-Nordheim formula using the calculated electric fields, followed by a simulation performed using all CNFs on a field emitter cathode. The electron emission site α was determined by comparing the simulation and experimental results of the FE current. It was found that α depends on the morphology of the CNF bundles, and a close quantitative correspondence between the experimental and the computation results of FE properties was obtained. In summary, a method of analyzing FE properties was established using an original architecture, making it possible to predict FE properties with a computational tool based on the surface charge method.

Low-power-consumption flat-panel light-emitting device driven by field-emission electron source using high-crystallinity single-walled carbon nanotubes

Thin electrode films assembled through a wet process using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are expected to play a role in reducing power consumption and saving energy in field-emission electron sources. The flat-panel light-emitting device for this study featured a line-sequential-scanning-type electrode structure equipped with electrodes for on-and-off controls of electron emissions, on which high-crystallinity SWCNTs were uniformly distributed. The device successfully emitted electrons on the flat panel in a stable manner. A technology for amplifying the luminance output by controlling the persistence characteristics of a fluorescent screen was also successfully developed. By combining such elemental technologies, a flat-panel light-emission device, as a stand-alone planar lighting device, which achieves a high-luminance efficiency of 87 lm/W and energy-conserved driving, was assembled for the first time in the world. The creation of field-emission electron sources driven with ultralow power consumption, along with applications that utilize such devices, is expected in the future.

Method for Measuring the Distribution of Adhesion Forces on Continuous Nanoscale Protrusions Using Carbon Nanofiber Tip on a Scanning Probe Microscope Cantilever

The adhesion force on surfaces has received attention in numerous scientific and technological fields, including catalysis, thin-film growth, and tribology. Many applications require knowledge of the strength of these forces as a function of position in three dimensions, but until now such information has only been theoretically proposed. Here, we demonstrate an approach based on scanning probe microscopy that can obtain such data and be used to image the three-dimensional surface force field of continuous nanoscale protrusions. We present adhesion force maps with nanometer and nanonewton resolution that allow detailed characterization of the interaction between a surface and a thin carbon nanofiber (CNF) rod synthesized by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at the end of a tip on a scanning probe microscope cantilever in three dimensions. In these maps, the positions of all continuous nanoscale protrusions are identified and the differences in the adhesive forces among limited areas at inequivalent sites are quantified.

Controlling the electrical properties of ZnO films by forming zinc and oxide bridges by a plasma and electron-assisted process

A new method to produce electrically steady ZnO films without any heating process has been developed by using plasma and electron beams to facilitate bonding between the metallic component and the oxygen on coated ZnO films. Both plasma atmosphere and electron beams can function as sources of nonequilibrium bonding energy, forming bridges between the zinc present in the zinc complex and the oxygen in the ZnO particles to construct a zinc-oxide thin film. Our results confirm that it is possible to achieve low conductive characteristics by controlling the acceleration voltage of electrons used to irradiate the ZnO coating. The electrically steady films fabricated have various potential applications, being particularly well-suited to electrical devices on a plastic medium.

Optimization of a Tip with Carbon Nanofibers for Improved Field Emission Properties

To obtain a good field emission (FE) performance, the shape of a Pd/W tip substrate with carbon nanofibers is optimized. We succeeded in maximizing FE current by adjusting the apex angle of the tip. When the apex angle of the tip substrate is nearly 50°, a high FE efficiency and a narrow divergence emission angle for the convergence of the electron beam are obtained, which can be potentially used for the cathode of electrical devices with a low power consumption and a high FE efficiency.

Structure and Electrochemical Properties of a Mechanochemically Processed Silicon and Oxide-Based Nanoscale Composite as an Active Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Si is essential as an active material in Li-ion batteries because it provides both high charge and optimal cycling characteristics. A composite of Si particles, Cu particles, and pure H2O was realized to serve as an anode active material and optimize the charge–discharge characteristics of Li-ion batteries. The composite was produced by grinding using a planetary ball mill machine, which allowed for homogenous dispersion of nanoscale Cu3Si as Si–Cu alloy grains and nanoscale Si grains in each poly-Si particle produced. Furthermore, some Si particles were oxidized by H2O, and oxidized Si was distributed throughout the composite, mainly as silicon monoxide. As a result, each Si particle included silicon monoxide and conductive Cu3Si materials, allowing for effective optimization of the recharging and charge-discharge characteristics. Thus, a new and simple process was realized for synthesizing a Si active material composited with silicon oxides, including silicon monoxide. This Si-rich conductive material is suitable as an anode for Li-ion batteries with high charge and optimized cycling properties.