Abstract

Nanostructured II-VI semiconductors materials have recently become one of the most active research fields in the area of solid state physics, chemistry and engineering. These photosensitive nanomaterials are attracting intense interest as a promising material for optoelectronic applications. Due to their extremely small size, photosensitive nanomaterials have a much greater surface area than their conventional forms, which in some cases results in novel or distinctly different properties. At such a small scale, quantum effects also appear to become much more important in determining the properties and characteristics of these materials at nanoscale. Field emission displays have long been seen as ideal image visualization devices. The combination of their emissive nature coupled with high speed and other benefits make them a candidate to compete with liquid crystal displays in a major market. The technology has been difficult to realize but the combination of modern micro-fabrication techniques coupled with field enhancement from sharp structures as a source of electrons has enabled design solutions that have delivered displays with remarkable performance. However, manufacturing such devices has proven difficult. Modern attempts include nanotechnology and materials solutions that have delivered new hope. There is a common history to many aspects of field emission and common challenges in realizing a vacuum microelectronics–based technology. The objective of this 3-year research effort is to synthesize and characterize nanostructured II-VI semiconductors and arrays by vapor phase and electrospining methods for field emission applications. The primary goal of this work is to study the effects of various factors that influence field emission from nanostructured II-VI semiconductors and arrays. For the set of factors that will be chosen for investigation, a suitable field emission testing system will be designed and assembled. The results can be applied to find a set of optimal parameters that could be used for any field emission device design in order to get maximum field emitted current density at low operating voltages. In addition, educational activities such as: the creation of a graduate course, reorganization of the undergraduate courses, and development of one multilevel learning module for K-16 students will be considered in this proposal and will contribute to address educational challenges in Physics, Chemistry and other nanoscale sciences. The execution of this proposal will give the opportunity to start a new research line in our department on photosensitive nanostructured semiconductors for optoelectronic and field emission applications, using two novel methods with promising applications.