Anomalous changes in electron emission during adsorption of alkali metals on a carbon film

An anomalous change was discovered in the field of electron emission during the adsorption of alkali metal atoms on the surface of an amorphous carbon film. The phenomenon involves the disappearance of electron emission from graphite nanoclusters that were local emission sources before the deposition of cesium. The observed effect is explained on the basis of surface diffusion processes of cesium atoms in a nonuniform electric field and intercalation graphite nanostructures by cesium.     

Cesium ion emission from a graphene surface on iridium in a high-intensity electric field

Features of cesium ion emission from a graphene film on iridium in a 10⁷–10⁸ V cm^?1 electric field of are studied. Field electron and desorption images demonstrate that the film consists of regions (islands) 20–100 nm in size. Intercalated cesium lies under the film. There is continuous desorption of cesium ions from the defects in the graphene film and the regions of where islands abut one another. Cesium ions arrive at the desorption sites from the intercalated state.     

Cold emission of negative ions from porous graphite

The electric field strength in the near-wall layers of thermonuclear facilities can be sufficient for the emission of negative ions from the surface of plasma facing materials. The mass spectra of negative ions from MPG-8 porous graphite at electric field strengths up to 4 × 10⁶ V/m and the surface composition of the target have been studied by ion scattering spectroscopy. The dependence of the mass composition of negative ion emission and residual gas on the sample’s temperature has been measured and a correlation between the intensity of negative hydrogen-ion emission and the desorption of water has been established. The temperature dependence of the emission of negative ions and clusters of carbon and hydrocarbon is in qualitative agreement with the chemical erosion of graphite.     

Electron emission degradation of nano-structured sp^2-bonded amorphous carbon films

The initial field electron emission degradation behaviour of original nano-structured sp^2-bonded amorphous carbon films has been observed, which can be attributed to the increase of the work function of the film in the field emission process analysed using a Fowler-Nordheim plot. The possible reason for the change of work function is suggested to be the desorption of hydrogen from the original hydrogen termination film surface due to field emission current-induced local heating. For the explanation of the emission degradation behaviour of the nano-structured sp2-bonded amorphous carbon film, a cluster model with a series of graphite （0001） basal surfaces has been presented, and the theoretical calculations have been performed to investigate work functions of graphite （0001） surfaces with different hydrogen atom and ion chemisorption sites by using first principles method based on density functional theory-local density approximation.     

Influence of cesium atoms on the field electron emission from multi-walled carbon nanotubes

It has been shown that the deposition of cesium atoms on multi-wall carbon nanotubes abruptly increases the current of the field electron emission, decreases the threshold electric field by a factor of three (to 0.8 V/m), and decreases the work function to 2.1–2.3 eV. It has been found that the flowing of the large emission current I ≥ 2 × 10^?6 A leads to a change in the current-voltage characteristics and a decrease in the emission current. This effect has been explained by escape of cesium atoms from the tips of most nanotubes into the nanotube depth due to desorption or intercalation. At the same time, the low work function is retained for some nanotubes, probably, due to the stronger bonding of Cs atoms with these nanotubes.     

Nonstationary processes in an electric field during coadsorption of gold and alkali metals on tungsten

The processes induced by a strong electric field in the “tungsten-gold-alkali metal” adsorption systems are studied. Field desorption of K⁺ and Cs⁺ ions initiates nonstationary processes involving ion current pulsations and periodic displacements of desorption regions under constant experimental conditions. The observed effects are explained as resulting from the processes of (i) formation of an alkali-metal-gold film exhibiting properties of a wide-band-gap semiconductor, (ii) breakdown and restoration of this film in an electric field, and (iii) accumulation and relaxation of the electric charge.     

Graphene growth during benzene pyrolysis on an iridium crystal

The dependence of graphene formation mechanisms during pyrolysis of carbon-containing molecules on iridium on the crystal structure and surface curvature has been studied using field desorption and field electron microscopy. The structure and shape of grown carbon formations, diffusion, desorption, and intercalation of alkali metal atoms have been investigated.     

CNx纳米管的制备、结构观察及低场致电子发射性能研究

采用高温热解法，以乙二胺为前驱液，在沉积有铁催化剂的p型硅（111）基底上制备出了定向生长的CNx纳米管.利用扫描电子显微镜、高分辨率透射电子显微镜和拉曼光谱对CNx纳米管进行了形貌观察和表征.CNx纳米管的高度在20?μm左右，直径在50—100nm之间，具有明显的“竹节状”结构，结晶有序度较差.对CNx纳米管薄膜进行低场致发射性能测试：外加电场为1.4V/μm，观察到20?μA /cm2发射电流，外电场升至2.54V/μm时发射电流达到1.280mA/cm2，在较高外电场下，没有发现电流“饱和”.这比 关键词： CNx纳米管 高温热解 “竹节状”结构 场致发射     

Rehybridization of the atomic orbitals and the field electron emission from nanostructured carbon

The field electron emission, structural features, and electronic properties of carbon films obtained by chemical vapor deposition were experimentally studied. It is shown that the field electron emission from the films composed of spatially oriented carbon nanotubes and platelike graphite nanocrystals is observed for the electric field strength lower by one to two orders of magnitude as compared to the values characteristic of the metal emitters. Experimental data reported for the first time are indicative of a local decrease in the electron work function in such carbon film materials as compared to that in graphite. A model of the emission center is proposed and a mechanism of the field electron emission from nanostructured carbon is described.     

Low-threshold field electron emission from carbon nanoclusters formed upon cold destruction of graphite

The field-emission characteristics of carbon nanoclusters (graphenes, nanotubes, their compositions with microdiamonds) produced by the cold destruction of natural graphite are studied. The structure of a coating of carbon nanoclusters on a tungsten cathode is examined by field emission microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electron diffraction. The high-intensity stable field emission of these clusters is shown to be characterized by a low field threshold. The mechanism of the low-threshold emission from carbon nanoclusters is discussed.     

Field emission properties and surface structure of nickel containing amorphous carbon

Nickel containing amorphous carbon (a-C:Ni) films have been deposited by filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) technique by introducing pure nickel into the graphite target. The field electron emission property of a-C:Ni was improved when compared to that of pure tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) by FCVA. The emission threshold field of a-C:Ni film is about 5 V μm⁻¹, whilst the threshold field of the ta-C film is about 13 V μm⁻¹. Raman spectroscopy suggests that the sp² clusters in the carbon film increase both in size and number when Ni is introduced. However, the emission was found to degrade to threshold fields beyond 20 V μm⁻¹ after the a-C:Ni film was left in ambient for a week. This observation is attributed to surface absorption of oxygen on the a-C:Ni film, as determined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.     

The nature of the adsorption bond between graphite islands and iridium surface

To reveal the nature of adsorption bonds between two-dimensional graphite islands and iridium (111) and (100) faces, a study has been made of the adsorption of potassium and cesium atoms on the surface of these systems, using thermal desorption and Auger electron spectroscopy, as well as surface ionization and thermionic emission techniques. The graphite islands are shown to be weakly bound to the iridium substrate by Van der Waals forces. The unsaturated valence bonds at the periphery of the graphite islands are “lowered down” on to the metal. The recess between the graphite layer and the metal is filled by adsorbing particles through defects in the graphite layer. The atoms can penetrate into the recess in two ways: at T > 1000 K directly from the flux incident on the surface, and at T < 1000 K also by migration from the graphite island surface. The adsorption capacity of this state is ～ (2?3) × 10¹⁴cm^-2. Thermal destruction of the islands at T > 1900 K liberates the potassium and cesium atoms from under the graphite islands. Our study suggests that the reason for the “raised” position of the islands lies in the valence bonds of the graphite layer being saturated, the valence bonds of the metal and its crystallographic orientation being less significant. Therefore one may expect the graphite layer to be raised also above other metals as well. The filling by cesium of the recess between the graphite layer and iridium and of the adsorption phase on the graphite surface, does not change the general “graphitic” shape of the carbon Auger peak. This cesium results, however, in a pronounced splitting of the negative spike on the carbon peak (which provides information on its location relative to the graphite layer) indicating the appearance in the valence band of graphite near the Fermi level of two narrow (～ 2?3 eV) regions with an enhanced density of states originating from the presence of the alkali metal.     

多壁碳纳米管阵列场发射研究

研究了Ar离子束轰击及温度对多壁碳纳米管阵列场发射性能的影响.经Ar离子轰击35min后，发现阵列顶端的Fe催化剂颗粒明显减少，弯曲的顶部被轰击掉，使碳纳米管的场发射电流明显减小而场发射像无明显改变.温度的增加引起碳纳米管的场发射电流也随之增加.还研 究了在透明阳极技术中涂在阳极的荧光粉对场发射电流的影响.对同一碳纳米管阵列样品，发现涂有荧光粉的透明阳极使测量到的场发射电流大幅度减小，只是未涂荧光粉阳极电流的 1/30左右.直接用二氧化锡导电膜作阳极时，测得样品的开启场强为1.0V/μm.沉积了荧光粉的二 关键词： 多壁碳纳米管 场发射     

Emission of positive ions from KCl and NaCl crystals exposed to high electric fields

It is demonstrated by means of combined optical microscopy and field desorption mass spectrometry that alkali ions and cluster ions are emitted from microcrystals of KCl and NaCl exposed to positive high electric fields. The ion emission is very strong at temperatures where the sublimation of the sample is optically observable, indicating that an enhanced sample sublimation is a key precondition for enhanced ion emission.     

类球状微米金刚石聚晶膜场发射的稳定性

在覆盖金属钛层的陶瓷上,利用微波等离子体化学气相沉积(MPCVD)法制备出类球状微米金刚石聚晶膜。通过二极管结构测试了聚晶膜的场致电子发射特性,利用扫描电子显微镜、拉曼光谱、XRD分析了场发射前后薄膜的结构和表面形貌的变化。发现在高场、大电流密度的场发射中,对类球状微米金刚石聚晶薄膜中的金刚石聚晶颗粒影响很小,而对金刚石聚晶颗粒间的非晶碳层影响很大。对类球状微米金刚石聚晶变化机理进行了研究。     

Field emission properties of a-C and a-C:H films deposited on silicon surfaces modified with nickel nanoparticles

The a-C and a-C:H films are deposited on silicon surfaces modified with and without nickel nanoparticles by using mid-frequency magnetron sputtering. The microstructures and morphologies of the films are analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Field emission behaviors of the deposited films with and without nickel nanoparticles modification are comparatively investigated. It is found that the hydrogen-free carbon film exhibits a high field emission current density and low turn-on electric field compared with the hydrogenated carbon film. Nickel modifying could increase the current density, whereas it has no significant effect on the turn-on electric field. The mechanism of field electron emission of a sample is discussed from the surface morphologies of the films and nickel nanoparticle roles in the interface between film and substrate.     

Critical role of laser wavelength on carbon films grown by PLD of graphite

The structure of thin films deposited by pulsed laser ablation (PLD) is strongly dependent on experimental conditions, like laser wavelength and fluence, substrate temperature and pressure. Depending on these parameters we obtained various kinds of carbon materials varying from dense, mainly tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C), to less compact vertically oriented graphene nano-particles. Thin carbon films were grown by PLD on n-Si 〈100〉 substrates, at temperatures ranging from RT to 800°C, from a rotating graphite target operating in vacuum. The laser ablation of the graphite target was performed by a UV pulsed ArF excimer laser (λ=193 nm) and a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, operating in the near IR (λ=1064 nm). The film structure and texturing, characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis, performed at grazing incidence (GI-XRD), and the film density, evaluated by X-ray reflectivity measurements, are strongly affected both by laser wavelength and fluence and by substrate temperature. Micro-Raman and GI-XRD analysis established the progressive formation of aromatic clusters and cluster condensation into vertically oriented nano-sized graphene structures as a direct function of increasing laser wavelength and deposition temperature. The film density, negatively affected by substrate temperature and laser wavelength and fluence, in turn, results in a porous bulk configuration and a high macroscopic surface roughness as shown by SEM characterisation. These structural property modifications induce a relevant variation also on the emission properties of carbon nano-structures, as evidenced by field emission measurements. This work is dedicated to our friend Giorgio who passed away 20th August.     

Probe Measurements in Electronegative Plasmas: Modeling the Perturbative Effects of the Probe‐Holder

A basic property of an electronegative plasma is its separation into two distinct regions: an ion‐ion region far from boundaries, where the densities of positive and negative ions are higher then electron density, and a near‐boundary electron‐ion region, where negative ions have practically negligible density. This is due to the influence of the ambipolar electric field, which depends on electron (not negative ion) plasma parameters. This electric field “holds off” negative ions from the boundary, as the ions have lower mobility and temperature compared to the electrons. Therefore, negative ions will be repelled by any object inserted into the plasma. This can lead to errors in measurements of negative ion and electron parameters by any invasive method. Numerical modeling of electric probes in an argon‐oxygen plasma clearly demonstrates possible errors of direct measurements of negative ion probe current. This can also affect results from the photo‐detachment method and direct measurements of negative ion energy distribution (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Electron transport in the carbon-copper nanocluster structure

The electron transport in hydrogenated amorphous carbon films a-C: H with copper nanocluster inclusions has been investigated. The conditions of cluster formation are derived. It is theoretically demonstrated that the energy band structure of the matrix substantially affects the conditions of cluster formation. The electron transport depends on the cluster structure. It is found that, below the percolation threshold (the case of isolated clusters), the transport current is governed by two components depending on the electric field strength. At low field strengths, the current is caused by electrons in the conduction band of amorphous carbon, which are thermally excited from copper clusters. At high field strengths, the transport current is provided by tunneling electrons from the Fermi level of copper clusters to the conduction band of a-C: H. The difference between the mobility edge of the conduction band of amorphous carbon and the Fermi level in copper clusters is determined from the temperature dependence of the resistance and proves to be equal to 0.48 eV. The temperature dependences of the resistance at low field strengths exhibit a fine structure. It is revealed that, above the percolation threshold, the electrical resistance of clusters is considerably contributed by the residual resistance, which is supposedly associated with the electron scattering by cluster surfaces. The temperature effect on the electron transport is examined using the spin-wave scattering technique at a frequency of 4.0 GHz. It is found that the spin wave in the yttrium iron garnet (YIG) film is predominantly affected by thermally excited electrons located above the mobility edge in the conduction band of a-C: H.     

Field electron emission from HfNxOy thin films deposited by direct current sputtering

HfN_xO_y thin films were deposited on Si substrates by direct current sputtering at room temperature. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). SEM indicates that the film is composed of nanoparticles. AFM indicates that there are no sharp protrusions on the surface of the film. XRD pattern shows that the films are amorphous. The field electron emission properties of the film were also characterized. The turn-on electric field is about 14 V/μm at the current density of 10 μA/cm², and at the electric field of 24 V/μm, the current density is up to 1 mA/cm². The field electron emission mechanism of the HfN_xO_y thin film is also discussed.