Observation of electron field emission patterns from B-doped diamond films

Abstract

To develop electron beam sources of carbon materials, field emission patterns were observed in three different setups. The first was a diode-type, in which a carbon specimen was facing to a positively biased fluorescence plate. The second was a triode-type, in which a positively biased grid was placed between them. In the third setup, a commercial electron gun was modified so that it could accommodate a carbon specimen and a grid. A fluorescence plate was placed in a vacuum chamber outside the gun. As the carbon specimen for electron emission source, B-doped diamond films, a single crystal diamond with a B-doped layer, an undoped diamond film and a glass-like carbon both with a fibrous structure at the surface, and a sponge carbon were used. It was found that electron emission from edges was dominant for 1×1 cm diamond films and carbon specimens in the diode-type setup. In the triode-type setup, the edges of the specimens were masked with a Kapton® tape. The electron emission occurred only from some spots on the specimen. In the electron gun setup, it was confirmed that an electron beam was generated, and a fairly uniform circle was seen on the fluorescence plate under defocused situation, while the circle became smaller by adjusting the current of the focusing lens. Although more uniform emission from the electron source materials seemed to be necessary for practical applications, it was demonstrated that an electron beam could be generated even in such a simple setup.