To evaluate the heat resistance of the field emission (FE) properties of nano-diamond/carbon nanowall (ND/CNW), we investigated the changes in FE and surface texture due to heating the samples in the atmosphere. Among the three samples heated at 450°C, 500°C, and 550°C in one hour, the samples heated at higher temperature had a lower threshold field, which induced an electron emission density of 1 mA/cm
2. When the heating time was increasing at a temperature of 550°C, it caused not only the reduction of the threshold field but also a decrease in thickness of the ND layer. Heating the samples at 600°C for one hour resulted in further a decrease in thickness of the ND layer and degradation of FE properties. By 3 hours heating at 600°C, most of the ND/CNW layers were burned off. The reductions of the threshold field of the sample by heating in the atmosphere were considered to be due to enhancement of the field at the tips of carbon sticks on the top of the ND layer, which was regarded as the emission sites and became thinner during thermal etching.
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