Optimization of Amorphic Diamond(TM) Field Emitters

9361080库马尔液晶显示器技术是目前最流行的平板显示器平台，但存在制造复杂、成本高的问题。作为跨越式平板显示技术的场致发射显示器(FED)演示样机的制作一直面临着很大的困难。这主要归因于目前所有FED中用作电子源的传统微尖类型冷阴极存在可制造性和可扩展性问题。无形态金刚石(AD)场发射极冷阴极的最新发明可能是影响FPD技术的第一个革命性发现，因为最初的微针尖是在近20年前开发出来的。薄膜AD阴极的有效功函数非常低(约0.2 eV)，具有高发射位密度、高导热系数、化学惰性、可在室温下沉积、与FDP材料和工艺兼容。我们建议集中精力了解这些薄膜的场发射现象，并对这些材料的优化进行系统的研究。更好地了解这些机制不仅有助于开发更高质量的AD发射器，还可能引导我们开发新的(非碳基)甚至更好的场发射器。***

9361080 Kumar Liquid crystal display (LCD) technology is currently the most popular platform of flat panel displays (FPD), but it suffers from complex manufacturing and high cost problems. Great difficulties have been experienced in producing demonstration prototype field emission displays (FED) which have been promoted as the leap-frog FPD technology. This is mainly attributed to the manfacturability and scalability problems associated with the traditional micro-tip type of cold cathode used as the source of electrons in all current FEDs. The recent invention of Amorphic Diamond (AD) field emitter cold cathode is probably the first revolutionary discovery affecting FPD technology sine the original micro-tips were developed almost twenty years ago. The thin film AD cathodes have a very low effective work function (on the order of 0.2eV), have high density of emission sites, have high thermal conductivity, are chemically inert, can be deposited at room temperature, and are FDP material and process compatible. We are proposing to concentrate on the understanding of the field emission phenomenon from these films and to carry out a systematic study for optimization of these materials. A better understanding of these mechanisms will help not only in the development of higher quality AD emitters, but may also lead us to new (non-carbon based) and even better field emitters. ***