Image potential of single-wall carbon nanotubes in the field emission condition

Abstract

We calculated the image potentials of single-walled carbon nanotubes of various structures in the condition of field emission with a quantum chemistry method. The image potential of the single-walled carbon nanotubes can be well fitted with the image potential of an ideal metal sphere in a size comparable to an atom. The image potential is not sensitive to both the applied field and the structure of the tube. When the image potential is included, the emission current would be one order larger.