Patent · US Expired

Field emission devices employing enhanced diamond field emitters

US5637950A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
11References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 31, 1994
Grant dateJun 10, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 31, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2329/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Applicants have discovered methods for making, treating and using diamonds which substantially enhance their capability for low voltage emission. Specifically, applicants have discovered that defect-rich diamonds--diamonds grown or treated to increase the concentration of defects--have enhanced properties of low voltage emission. Defect-rich diamonds are characterized in Raman spectroscopy by a diamond peak at 1332 cm.sup.-1 broadened by a full width at half maximum .DELTA.K in the range 5-15 cm.sup.-1 (and preferably 7-11 cm.sup.-1). Such defect-rich diamonds can emit electron current densities of 0.1 mA/mm.sup.2 or more at a low applied field of 25 V/.mu.m or less. Particularly advantageous structures use such diamonds in an array of islands or particles each less than 10 .mu.m in diameter at fields of 15 V/.mu.m or less.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.