Activation of fullerene coatings on field emitters by potassium atom and ion fluxes

The activation of tip field emitters with a fullerene coating by the atomic and ionic fluxes of potassium is studied. The deposition of atomic potassium decreases characteristic voltage U ₁ generating fixed fieldemission current I by a factor of 3.5–4.0. However, field emitters activated by potassium atoms are rapidly deactivated and the resulting decrease in U ₁ after storage in a vacuum does not exceed 25–30%. A stable approximately twofold decrease in the characteristic voltage can be reached if the fullerene coating is exposed to a potassium ion flux. The enhanced efficiency of emitter activation by a potassium ion flux is explained by the formation of KC ₆₀ endohedral and/or C₆₀ K exohedral molecules in the fullerene coating.