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Ultra-sharp α-Fe2O3 nanoflakes: growth mechanism and field-emission

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Abstract

We report the synthesis of single-crystalline α-Fe2O3 nanoflakes from a simple Fe–air reaction within the temperatures range of 260–400 °C. The nanoflakes synthesized at the lowest temperature (260 °C) in this work show an ultra-sharp morphology: 5–10 nm in thickness, 1–2 μm in length, 20 nm in base-width and around 5 nm at the tips; successfully demonstrate the promising electron field emission properties of a large-scaled α-Fe2O3 nanostructure film and exhibit the potential applications as future field-emission (FE) electron sources and displays (FEDs). The formation and growth of α-Fe2O3 nanostructures were discussed based on the surface diffusion mechanism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Block 5, 637616, Singapore, Singapore

    Zhe Zheng, Zexiang Shen & Ting Yu

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Blk N4.1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore

    Yunzhong Chen & Jan Ma

  3. Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, 117542, Singapore, Singapore

    Chorng-Haur Sow

  4. National University of Singapore Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, Blk S13, Science Drive 3, 117542, Singapore, Singapore

    Chorng-Haur Sow

  5. Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, 200433, P.R. China

    Wei Huang

Authors
  1. Zhe Zheng
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  2. Yunzhong Chen
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  3. Zexiang Shen
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  4. Jan Ma
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  5. Chorng-Haur Sow
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  6. Wei Huang
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  7. Ting Yu
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Correspondence to Ting Yu.

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PACS

79.60.Jv; 79.70.+q; 77.84.Bw

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Zheng, Z., Chen, Y., Shen, Z. et al. Ultra-sharp α-Fe2O3 nanoflakes: growth mechanism and field-emission. Appl. Phys. A 89, 115–119 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-007-4180-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-007-4180-9

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