Abstract

Amorphous and crystalline diamond were deposited on Si field emitters to improve the emission characteristics of the cathodes. The coated emitters were studied by field emission and electron microscopies. Field emission results and Fowler- Nordheim analysis indicate enhanced emission from the coated emitters, as compared to uncoated Si cathodes. The diamond coating morphology and the microstructure of the coating/emitter interface were examined by electron microscopy.