@inproceedings{DamsPrommesbergerSchreiner, author = {Dams, Florian and Prommesberger, Christian and Schreiner, Rupert}, title = {Fabrication process of silicon-tip-arrays for field emission applications}, series = {24th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 2011 : 18 - 22 July 2011, Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal, Germany}, booktitle = {24th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 2011 : 18 - 22 July 2011, Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal, Germany}, publisher = {IEEE}, isbn = {978-3-00-035081-8}, issn = {2380-6311}, pages = {49 -- 50}, abstract = {A micromachined process to assemble homogeneous and reproducible tip arrays for field emission applications is developed and characterized. As substrate material p- as well as n-doped silicon is used. Lateral position of the tips is defined by structuring silicon dioxide to discs in a photolithographic process. Vertical structure of the tips is defined by a combination of RIE dry etching with controlled anisotropy and thermally oxidization of silicon in order to sharpen the tips. Hence field emitter arrays (FEAs) can be assembled both as bare and coated cathodes. To assemble field emission diodes, this fabrication process allows placing a metal anode in a micrometer order distance to the tips by a self-aligning procedure. The anode is placed in an evaporation process whereupon sharpening oxide is used as isolator between anode and cathode. Electrical characterization of the cathodes showed very good homogeneity, well alignment and stability over time of emission current from all tips (i.e. 100\% efficiency).}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{LangerPrommesbergerDamsetal., author = {Langer, Christoph and Prommesberger, Christian and Dams, Florian and Schreiner, Rupert}, title = {Theoretical investigations into the field enhancement factor of silicon structures}, series = {25th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC) - Jeju, Korea (South), 09.- 13.07.2012}, booktitle = {25th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC) - Jeju, Korea (South), 09.- 13.07.2012}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {Piscataway, N.J.}, isbn = {978-1-4673-1984-3}, issn = {2380-6311}, doi = {10.1109/IVNC.2012.6316886}, abstract = {In order to optimize our field-emitting silicon structures, the influence of geometric parameters like aspect ratio, aperture angle and curvature on the field enhancement factor was investigated by finite element simulations. A universal geometric model consisting of a rounded triangle and elliptic curvatures was taken for modeling a variety of different silicon tip as well as ridge structures. Whereas, a high dependency of the field enhancement on the aperture angle was found, the simulations show that the elliptic curvature affects the field enhancement only marginal.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchreinerPrommesbergerLangeretal., author = {Schreiner, Rupert and Prommesberger, Christian and Langer, Christoph and Dams, Florian and Serbun, Pavel and Bornmann, Benjamin and Navitski, Aliaksandr and M{\"u}ller, G{\"u}nter}, title = {Highly uniform and stable electron field emission from B-doped Si-tip arrays for applications in integrated vacuum microelectronic devices}, series = {25th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC) - Jeju, Korea (South), 09.07. - 13.07.2012}, booktitle = {25th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC) - Jeju, Korea (South), 09.07. - 13.07.2012}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {Piscataway, NJ.}, isbn = {978-1-4673-1984-3}, issn = {2380-6311}, doi = {10.1109/IVNC.2012.6316857}, pages = {1 -- 2}, abstract = {In order to improve the uniformity and field emission stability of p-type silicon tip arrays for pulsed sensor applications, we have systematically studied the influence of the fabrication parameters on the tip shape and the specific operating conditions. Based on detailed design calculations of the field enhancement, we have fabricated a series of hexagonal arrays of B-doped Si-tips in a triangular arrangement, each containing a different number of tips (91, 575 and 1300) of 1 μm height, 20 nm apex radius, and 20 μm pitch. The field emission properties of both individual tips and complete arrays were investigated with by field emission scanning microscopy. The current plateaus of these tips typically occur at about 10 nA and 60 V/μm field level. In this carrier depletion range, single tips provide the highest current stability (<; 4\%) and optical current switching ratios of ~2.5. Rather homogeneous emission of the tip arrays leads to an almost linear scaling of the saturation current (2 nA/tip) and to a much improved current stability (<; 1\%) measured over 1 hour.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SchreinerDamsPrommesbergeretal., author = {Schreiner, Rupert and Dams, Florian and Prommesberger, Christian and Bornmann, Benjamin and Serbun, Pavel and Navitski, Aliaksandr and M{\"u}ller, G{\"u}nter}, title = {Silicon-based integrated field emission electron sources for sensor application}, series = {24th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 2011 : 18 - 22 July 2011, Wuppertal, Germany}, booktitle = {24th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 2011 : 18 - 22 July 2011, Wuppertal, Germany}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {Piscataway, NJ}, pages = {19 -- 20}, abstract = {We report on the design, fabrication and characterization of p-type silicon field emitter arrays for the application in compact fast switchable electron sources. Since standard silicon technology has been used to prepare the devices, they can be easily integrated with other silicon based sensors and electronic components, too. The emitter arrays consist of approx. 3×105 tips per cm2, with a tip radius less than 20 nm. By using self-aligned processes, an integrated gate electrode with a diameter of  3 μm was placed concentrically around the tips. A mesh of silicon-beams with a grating period of 100 μm and beam width of 20 μm forms the anode of the electron source. A glass wafer (thickness 300 μm) acts as spacer between anode and Si-tip cathode. Characterization of the field emission properties of the emitter arrays was performed by high resolution field emission scanning microscopy. The emitter arrays exhibit a highly stable and very homogeneous emission. A maximum stable current of 0.1 μA per tip was found. A saturation level in the voltage current characteristics, which was found at around 10 nA, supports current stabilisation and will enable optical modulation of the emission current.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BornmannMingelsSerbunetal., author = {Bornmann, Benjamin and Mingels, Stephan and Serbun, Pavel and L{\"u}tzenkirchen-Hecht, Dirk and M{\"u}ller, G{\"u}nter and Prommesberger, Christian and Langer, Christoph and Dams, Florian and Schreiner, Rupert}, title = {Photosensitivity of electron field emission from B-doped Si-tip arrays}, series = {25th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC) ; Jeju, Korea (South), 09.07.2012 - 13.07.2012}, booktitle = {25th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC) ; Jeju, Korea (South), 09.07.2012 - 13.07.2012}, publisher = {IEEE}, isbn = {978-1-4673-1984-3}, issn = {2380-6311}, doi = {10.1109/IVNC.2012.6316980}, pages = {1 -- 2}, abstract = {The electron current from field-emitting B-doped Si-tip arrays under illumination was studied. An improved cathode design with a patch of 271 tips yielded a reproducible cathode current between 0.2-2000 nA in the electric field range of 3.8-6.6 V/μm. The plateau in the Fowler-Nordheim plot shows the actual carrier depletion and leads to a very stable emission at ~1 μA with a current noise of less than 3.3 \%. Color-filtered halogen lamp illumination was used to investigate the photo-sensitivity of the saturation current. The intensity-normalized current switching ratio increases nonlinearly with the photon energy. This hints either for secondary generation in the conduction band or deeper valence band excitation. The first is supported by a rough estimation of the quantum efficiency. Further experiments with a tunable laser and electron spectroscopy are planned.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BornmannMingelsLuetzenkirchenHechtetal., author = {Bornmann, Benjamin and Mingels, Stephan and L{\"u}tzenkirchen-Hecht, Dirk and M{\"u}ller, G{\"u}nter and Dams, Florian and Schreiner, Rupert}, title = {Field emission spectroscopy studies on photo-sensitive p-doped Si-tip arrays}, series = {24th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 2011 : 18 - 22 July 2011, Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal, Germany}, booktitle = {24th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 2011 : 18 - 22 July 2011, Historische Stadthalle Wuppertal, Germany}, publisher = {IEEE}, isbn = {978-3-00-035081-8}, issn = {2380-6311}, pages = {101 -- 102}, abstract = {The influence of laser illumination on the integral as well as on the energy-resolved electron currents from well-defined p-doped Si-tip arrays was investigated. First results have provided stable cathode currents between 100 nA and 500 μA in a field range of 2-20 V/μm. Green laser illumination resulted in an enhanced cathode current and an increased population of the conduction band which can be seen in the spectra. Charging of the cathode surface, however, leads to a shift and broadening of the spectra which complicate their analysis. Therefore, further experiments with a rotatable cathode and a varying number of tips as well as with a tunable laser are planned.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SerbunNavitskiMuelleretal., author = {Serbun, Pavel and Navitski, Aliaksandr and M{\"u}ller, G{\"u}nter and Schreiner, Rupert and Prommesberger, Christian and Langer, Christoph and Dams, Florian}, title = {Scaling of the field emission current from B-doped Si-tip arrays}, series = {25th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC) ; Jeju, Korea (South), 09.07.2012 - 13.07.2012}, booktitle = {25th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC) ; Jeju, Korea (South), 09.07.2012 - 13.07.2012}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {Piscataway, N.J.}, isbn = {978-1-4673-1984-3}, issn = {2380-6311}, doi = {10.1109/IVNC.2012.6316965}, pages = {1 -- 2}, abstract = {We have fabricated a test chip with various hexagonal arrays of B-doped Si tips (height ~ 3 μm, apex radius <; 30 nm, number 1-4447, resistivity 4 Ωcm, 100 orientation) in triangular arrangement (pitch 10 μm, density 1.16×10 6 cm -2 ) in order to systematically investigate the field emission current scaling with the number N of tips. Regulated voltage scans for 1 nA revealed rather efficient emission from nearly all tips of the arrays at an average field of 15 V/μm. The expected current plateau was always obtained at fields around 20 V/μm, but its width strongly increased with N. In this carrier depletion range, the single tip provided a much higher stability (<; 5\%) of the current (2-3 nA) than at lower (>; 50 \%) and higher currents (>; 30\%). Integral current measurements of the hexagonal arrays resulted in a statistically improved current stability (<; 1\%) but only a weak increase of the total current with N 0.28 yet. These results will be discussed with respect to the remaining inhomogeneity of the tips.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{NavitskiSerbunMuelleretal., author = {Navitski, Aliaksandr and Serbun, Pavel and M{\"u}ller, G{\"u}nter and Schreiner, Rupert and Dams, Florian}, title = {Efficient and reliable field emission from silicon tip arrays for miniaturized electron sources}, series = {2011 24th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference ; 18-22 July 2011 Wuppertal}, booktitle = {2011 24th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference ; 18-22 July 2011 Wuppertal}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {Piscataway, NJ}, isbn = {978-3-00-035081-8}, issn = {2380-6311}, pages = {71 -- 72}, abstract = {Silicon-based cathodes with precisely aligned field emitter arrays (FEA) applicable for miniaturized electron sources were successfully developed and fabricated. The cathode chips contain about 3×105 Si tips/cm2 in a triangular array with a tip height of 2.5 μm, tip radius of 20 nm, and lateral distance between tips of 20 μm. Amazingly homogeneous and well-aligned field emission (FE) from all tips (i.e. 100\% efficiency) and maximum stable currents of typically 0.1 μA for p- and 0.6 μA for n-type Si were reproducibly achieved. Current-voltage characteristics of p-type Si tips exhibit the expected saturation at around 10 nA due to limited supply of electrons from a depletion layer, while the n-type Si tips show the usual FN behaviour. Additional coating of the Si tips with a 10 nm Au layer resulted in at least 5 times higher average FE current levels i.e. typically 3 μA but lead, however, to a 30\% increase of the onset voltage.}, language = {en} }