The field emissive, electrical, magnetic, and structural characteristics of nickel (Ni) nanowires synthesized using the electrochemical deposition method with an alumina nanoporous template are reported. The synthesis and formation of Ni nanowires were confirmed by XRD, SEM, and HR-TEM experiments. Ferromagnetic hysteresis curves and the metallic temperature dependence of the current-voltage characteristics were observed for the Ni nanowire systems. The nanotip emitters of the field emission cells of the Ni nanowires after O(2) plasma treatment were easily patterned using the solution drop casting (SDC) method, in which the Ni nanowires were homogeneously dispersed in organic solvents, and then dropped and dried on an n-type doped Si substrate as the cathode. For the O(2) plasma treated Ni nanowires, we observed that the inhomogeneous oxidized layer on their surface was reduced, that the current density of the field emission cell increased from approximately 3.0 x 10(-9) to approximately 1.0 x 10(-3) A cm(-2) due to field emission, and that the lowest threshold electric field was approximately 4 V microm(-1). The field enhancement factor was estimated as approximately 1300 for the O(2) plasma treated Ni nanowires. The evolution of the field emission obtained from the phosphor screen was observed at different applied electric fields.

The electrical, morphological, and mechanical properties of polycarbonate (PC)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites were studied by electrical conductivity, electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI SE), scanning electron microscopy, and tensile strength measurements. In the electrical property analysis of the PC/MWNT composites, the percolation threshold of the PC/MWNT composites was observed between 1.5 and 2.5 wt% MWNT content. From the electrical conductivity and EMI SE studies, the theoretical values of the EMI SE were in good agreement with the experimental values of the EMI SE. From the morphology of the PC/MWNT composites, it was observed that MWNT is dispersed homogenously in the PC matrix. From the electrical conductivity and morphological studies, it was suggested that the percolation threshold of the PC/MWNT composites is related with the morphological results in that MWNT is apparently interconnected to form an electrical pathway. The mechanical properties of the PC/MWNT composites peaked at the MWNT content of 2.5 wt%.