Planer field emitters and high efficiency photocathodes based on ultrananocrystalline diamond (ANL-IN-14-106)
- Planer field emitters and high efficiency photocathodes based on ultrananocrystalline diamond (ANL-IN-14-106)
The first layer is seeded with nanodiamond particles. The substrate with the first layer disposed thereon is maintained at a first temperature and a first pressure in a mixture of gases which includes nitrogen. The first layer is exposed to a microwave plasma to form a nitrogen doped ultrananocrystalline diamond film on the first layer, which has a percentage of nitrogen in the range of about 0.05 atom % to about 0.5 atom %. The field emitter has about 1012 to about 1014 emitting sites per cm2. A photocathode can also be formed similarly by forming a nitrogen doped ultrananocrystalline diamond film on a substrate similar to the field emitter, and then hydrogen terminating the film. The photocathode is responsive to near ultraviolet light as well as to visible light.
Benefits
- Prototype planer filed emission based electron source for RF injectors in accelerators
- At surface gradients 45–65 MV/m, peak currents of 1–80mA were achieved.
- Good operation at moderate high vacuum (10-6 Torr)