Enhanced field-emission behavior of layered MoS2 sheets.

ABSTRACT

Field emission studies are reported for the first time on layered MoS2 sheets at the base pressure of ∼1 × 10⁻8 mbar. The turn-on field required to draw a field emission current density of 10 µA/cm² is found to be 3.5 V/µm for MoS2 sheets. The turn-on values are found to be significantly lower than the reported MoS2 nanoflowers, graphene, and carbon nanotube-based field emitters due to the high field enhancement factor (∼1138) associated with nanometric sharp edges of MoS2 sheet emitter surface. The emission current-time plots show good stability over a period of 3 h. Owing to the low turn-on field and planar (sheetlike) structure, the MoS2 could be utilized for future vacuum microelectronics/nanoelectronic and flat panel display applications.