Here we report self-propagated growth of lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) decorated Carbon Nano Tubes (CNTs) from the pyrolytic graphite rods treated with nitrogen arc plasma. The system so formed is named as LaB6-CNTs. Two pyrolytic graphite rods were used as electrodes in the arc plasma reactor whereas, the LaB6 sample kept onto anode acts as catalyst. The anode left out with residue of LaB6 was exposed to normal atmospheric conditions which show ignition of selfpropagated growth of CNTs decorated with LaB6 . Such growth was observed within a couple of days after exposure to the environment without any external supply of energy. The growth is found to be slow and continues till complete erosion of the pyrolytic graphite block. The self-propagated powder obtained was characterized thoroughly using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FESEM and TEM techniques. These nanostructures were found to exhibit efficient field-emitting properties with a low turn-on electric field of ~ 2 V/μm, and a current density of ~ 1.5 A/cm2 at an applied electric field of 1.8 V/m. Therefore, the nanostructures obtained can be explored for electron emission applications.

Self-propagated growth of LaB6 decorated carbon nano tubes (LaB6-CNT) grown from plasma treated pyrolytic graphite suitable for electron emission applications
    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental details
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Nucleation and growth of MWCNTS
    4 Conclusion
    References

• Soumen Karmakar(Department of Physics, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Off-Campus Deoghar, Deoghar 814142, Jharkhand, India)
• Srikumar Ghorui(Laser and Plasma Technology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), 400085 Trombay, Mumbai, India)
• Shalaka A. Kamble(Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Maharashtra 411007 Pune, India)
• Somnath R. Bhopale(Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Maharashtra 411007 Pune, India)
• Sanket D. Jangale(Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Maharashtra 411007 Pune, India)
• Neha P. Ghodke(Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Maharashtra 411007 Pune, India)
• S. V. Bhoraskar(Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Maharashtra 411007 Pune, India)
• M. A. More1(Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Maharashtra 411007 Pune, India)
• V. L. Mathe(Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Maharashtra 411007 Pune, India) Corresponding author