Abstract:
A method of producing field emitters having improved brightness and durability relying on the creation of a liquid Taylor cone from electrically conductive materials having high melting points. The method calls for melting the end of a wire substrate with a focused laser beam, while imposing a high positive potential on the material. The resulting molten Taylor cone is subsequently rapidly quenched by cessation of the laser power. Rapid quenching is facilitated in large part by radiative cooling, resulting in structures having characteristics closely matching that of the original liquid Taylor cone. Frozen Taylor cones thus obtained yield desirable tip end forms for field emission sources in electron beam applications. Regeneration of the frozen Taylor cones in-situ is readily accomplished by repeating the initial formation procedures. The high temperature liquid Taylor cones can also be employed as bright ion sources with chemical elements previously considered impractical to implement.
Abstract:
A method of uniformly controlling the apex sharpness of field-emitter arrays fabricated by a molding technique are described. The method utilizes the repeated oxidation and etching of the mold substrate (101,102,104,105) consisting of single-crystal semiconductor mold wafers, where the mold holes (110,111,112,113) for individual emitters are fabricated by utilizing the crystal orientation dependence of the etching rate.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a diamond electron source and its manufacturing method wherein one sharp-pointed section as an electron emission point for use in an electron beam device such as an electron microscope is formed at one end of a columnar diamond single crystal having a size where resist coating is difficult in a microfabrication process. SOLUTION: One end of the columnar diamond single crystal 10 is polished to form a smooth flat surface 11, and a ceramic layer 12 is formed on the smooth flat surface 11. After a thin film layer 14 having a predetermined shape is deposited on the ceramic layer 12 by using a focused ion beam system, the ceramic layer 12 is patterned by etching using the thin film layer 14 as a mask. One sharp-pointed section is formed at the one end of the columnar diamond single crystal 10 by dry etching using the formed ceramic mask. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
Some embodiments of vacuum electronics call for nanoscale field-enhancing geometries. Methods and apparatus for using nanoparticles to fabricate nanoscale field-enhancing geometries are described herein. Other embodiments of vacuum electronics call for methods of controlling spacing between a control grid and an electrode on a nano- or micron-scale, and such methods are described herein.
Abstract:
An array of carbon nanotube micro-tip structure includes an insulating substrate and a plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures. The insulating substrate includes a surface. The surface includes an edge. A plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures spaced from each other. Each of the plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures is partially arranged on the surface of the insulating substrate. Each of the plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures comprises two strip-shaped arms joined together forming a tip portion protruding and suspending from the edge of the surface of the insulating substrate. Each of the two strip-shaped arms comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes parallel to the surface of the insulating substrate.