Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of fabrication of cold cathodes by irradiation of doped Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) films with multicharged ions. According to the invention each multicharged ion prints on the surface an isolative dot from which, directly or after a conditioning process, one can extract at room temperature intense electronic currents with very low electric fields. These dots may be printed on very inexpensive DLC films on areas, of predetermined shapes, sizes and emissivity. The invention also relates to the corresponding emissive surfaces and all applications of the method to the fabrication of electron guns of exceptional intensity and geometrical properties and owning very low energy consumption to be used for portable instruments. These cold cathodes may be used in all instruments based on electron beams, such as flat panel displays, x ray or all electronic tubes, vacuum components and so on.