Graphical Abstract
![](https://wqketang.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com/zip-unzip/zip-231e8b4d-3ed1-49de-b655-84e4584154ea/nr-5-6-421/files/nr-5-6-421-FE1.jpg?Expires=1725756351&OSSAccessKeyId=STS.NT5eViCkqzTYdbfdqxMkjpyyq&Signature=%2B1TxfpxXVPT82BGOjGmY8dA6ybo%3D&security-token=CAISywJ1q6Ft5B2yfSjIr5eALuzdrrRQzZayZkTXgHEtQeRGn7zSkzz2IHtKenhsBOsbtfk1mG5W5%2FgZlqJ9SptIAEfJa9d99MzUP%2FpFltCT1fau5Jko1beHewHKeTOZsebWZ%2BLmNqC%2FHt6md1HDkAJq3LL%2Bbk%2FMdle5MJqP%2B%2FUFB5ZtKWveVzddA8pMLQZPsdITMWCrVcygKRn3mGHdfiEK00he8TouufTinpHMskGA1Aell7Mvyt6vcsT%2BXa5FJ4xiVtq55utye5fa3TRYgxowr%2Fwo0v0YpGya5YzHXwcPskvdKZbo78UqLQlla6w%2BGqFJqvPxr%2Fp8t%2Fx5fWJKAezhVgs8cVM8JOjIqKOscIsiJsO71SmqFV55c8Fdm%2BgUooJVgIMhTnduUfAPJAGOxzJitP%2BUVGGphr60TEnBL4rB5MUctfzRp75SXVPUTzDnGoABjuNLcf76FQN6p3t%2BSlCg%2FxR5C72RIk78k%2BUi44L9ZBmFT6F8GV7aXA52D1Ps56knKF6PAnhRivwyTxgsolycBfvccb3t5jGJ24SgY0aYosAECutxAo7sJhSwlwZvGwGDZJsop1vGiZ8eN1MbtZeRRuMeaZ2I%2BQo%2BnVP6Cf%2F0pDsgAA%3D%3D)
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Flexible and free-standing well-aligned carbon nanotube arrays have been synthesized on super-aligned carbon nanotube films. The combined structure of the carbon nanotube array and carbon nanotube film was formed during chemical vapor deposition on a quartz substrate which had previously been covered with a super-aligned carbon nanotube film. It was found that the growing carbon nanotube array could support up the super-aligned carbon nanotube film entirely, and the top of the array became densely entangled with the super-aligned carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube array with the super-aligned carbon nanotube film could be easily peeled off from the quartz substrate as a whole, giving a flexible and free-standing structure with good mechanical properties. The bottom of the array was also exposed after being peeled off and was used as a field emitter. The combined structure of the carbon nanotube array with the carbon nanotube film allowed adsorbent-free field emission by passing a heating current through it. Furthermore, due to the fast thermal response of the structure and the long time needed for re-adsorption of adsorbates in vacuum, it was found that pulsed heating with a 10% duty ratio was sufficient for adsorbent-free field emission. The heating power necessary to sustain the adsorbent-free state can be lowered in this way.
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