Fig. 1

The energy and spatial schemes of electron transfer, thermo- (hν′) and photo- (hν) excitation as well as electron emission from CNT in PTFE matrix, accounting for defects in polymer (free volumes – FVs) and in CNTs (Stone-Wales defect – SWD) (a). The analogous schemes illustrated the Schottky effect for CNT in a uniform external electrical field (E0), which is modified due to the high CNT’s aspect ratio (h/d) into a nonuniform field (E) with a potential (ϕ), and the electron field emission (tunnelling) process in the case of a lowered energy and decreased spatial potential barrier, which determined by the work function φ (φ0 is the work function value before the appearance of external electrical field including cases of ions’ adsorption on the sample surface or its irradiation by the electrons) (b).