Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A, Vol.16, No.3, 922-925, 1998
Field emission characteristics of patterned free-standing diamond films
By depositing diamond films on Mo substrates (thickness=3 mm) with approximately 0.2 mm wide and 1.0 mm deep hole-type grooves, we easily obtained tubular-volcano-type patterned free-standing diamond films. The hole diameter at the film surface decreased with the film growth, eventually forming circular cones. Protrusions as high as similar to 50 mu m occurred at the substrate side of the films. For the tubular-volcano-type patterned free-standing diamond films, field emission characteristics were greatly enhanced, including lower turn-on voltages and higher current density. The surface morphologies of the films were correlated with the field emission characteristics. Reasons for the enhancement of the held emission characteristics for the tubular-volcano-type patterned free-standing diamond emitters were discussed.