Hybridization of gold nanoparticles in the ultrananocrystalline
diamond materials improves the electrical conductivity of the
materials to a high level of 230 (Ω cm)−1 with a sheet carrier concentration
of 8.9 × 1020 cm−2
. These hybrid materials show
enhanced electron field emission (EFE) properties, viz. a low turnon
field of 2.1 V μm−1 with a high EFE current density of 5.3 mA
cm−2 (at an applied field of 4.9 V μm−1
) and the life-time stability
up to a period of 372 min. The fabrication of these hybrid materials
with high conductivity and superior EFE behaviors is a direct and
simple process which opens new prospects in flat panel displays
and high brightness electron sources.