Field emission properties of patterned boron nanocones

Large area patterned boron nanocones with low turn-on electric field of 2.8 V microm(-1) and low threshold electric field of 3.8 V microm(-1) were synthesized by a pre-manipulation to pattern the catalyst with a grid template as mask. The good field emission performance of patterned boron nanocones arise from the decreased screening effect and a favorable orientation of the nanocones. These results show that the patterned growth is a highly efficient way to enhance the field emission performance of boron nanocones, which have a great potential of application in flat panel displays and electron emission nanodevices.