Improving field emission by constructing CsI–AlN hybrid nanostructures

Here we report the construction of CsI–AlN hybrid nanostructures by evaporating CsI onto preformed AlN nanocone arrays. The field emission performances of the hybrid samples are much improved due to the lower work function, better conductivity and more emission sites, depending on the size and density of the CsI nanoparticles. But the performance gradually decays after ca. 45 min stable emission due to the instability of CsI during field emission which has been neglected to date. The results suggest that further effort to prevent the loss of Cs species to improve the stability of CsI-decorated hybrid nanostructures is required for practical applications.