TY - JOUR A1 - Edler, Simon A1 - Schels, Andreas A1 - Herdl, Florian A1 - Hansch, Walter A1 - Bachmann, Michael A1 - Dudeck, Markus A1 - Duesberg, Felix A1 - Pahlke, Andreas A1 - Hausladen, Matthias A1 - Buchner Philipp, A1 - Schreiner, Rupert T1 - Origin of the current saturation level of p-doped silicon field emitters JF - Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B N2 - Using p-type semiconductors for field emitters is one simple way to realize an integrated current limiter to improve the lifetime of the cathode. In this work, the origin of the current saturation of p-type silicon emitters is investigated in detail. Single emitters are electrically characterized and compared to simulation results. With a simulation model considering a high surface generation rate and elevated tip temperature, a good agreement to the measured data is found. This observation is supported further by alteration of the surface experimentally. Electrical measurements after different treatments in hydrofluoric acid as well as heated and subsequent operation at room temperature are well explained by the influence of surface generation. Furthermore, it is shown that the field penetration leads to a small voltage drop and a strong geometry-dependent reduction of the field enhancement factor. KW - EMISSION KW - GROWTH KW - NATIVE-OXIDE Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0001554 VL - 40 IS - 1 PB - AIP Publishing ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bachmann, Michael A1 - Düsberg, Felix A1 - Pahlke, Andreas A1 - Edler, Simon A1 - Schels, Andreas A1 - Herdl, Florian A1 - Hausladen, Matthias A1 - Buchner, Philipp A1 - Schreiner, Rupert T1 - The “LED‐version” of the electron gun: An electron source for operation in ambient pressure environments based on silicon field emitter arrays JF - Vakuum in Forschung und Praxis N2 - We report on our progress to develop and optimize electron sources for practical applications. A simple fabrication process is introduced based on a wafer dicing saw and a wet chemical etch step without the need for a clean room. Due to the formation of crystal facets the samples show a homogeneous geometry throughout the array. Characterization techniques are developed to systematically compare various arrays. A very defined measurement procedure based on current controlled IV-sweeps as well as lifetime measurements at various currents is proposed. To investigate the current distribution in the array a commercial CMOS detector is used and shows the potential for in depth analysis of the arrays. Finally, a compact hermetically sealed housing is presented enabling electron generation in atmospheric pressure environments. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/vipr.202300801 VL - 35 IS - 3 SP - 32 EP - 37 PB - Wiley ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Herdl, Florian A1 - Kueddelsmann, Maximillian J. A1 - Schels, Andreas A1 - Bachmann, Michael A1 - Edler, Simon A1 - Wohlfartsstätter, Dominik A1 - Düsberg, Felix A1 - Prugger, Alexander A1 - Dillig, Michael A1 - Dams, Florian A1 - Schreiner, Rupert A1 - Coileáin, Cormac Ó. A1 - Zimmermann, Stefan A1 - Pahlke, Andreas A1 - Duesberg, Georg S. T1 - Characterization and Operation of Graphene-Oxide-Semiconductor Emitters at Atmospheric Pressure Levels T2 - 2023 IEEE 36th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 10-13 July 2023, Cambridge, MA, USA N2 - In recent years Graphene-Oxide-Semiconductor (GOS) electron emitters have attracted a lot of interest due to their outstanding durability in modest vacuum conditions. However, the performance at ambient pressure remains largely unexplored. In this study GOS-emitters are characterized in nitrogen and air at atmospheric pressure, and compared with their vacuum characteristics. For this purpose, lifetime and IV-characteristics measurements are shown. Furthermore, the GOS-emitter was operated as an ionization source for ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) at ambient conditions. KW - durability KW - graphene compounds KW - ion mobility KW - semiconductor-insulator boundaries Y1 - 2023 SN - 979-8-3503-0143-4 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/IVNC57695.2023.10188974 SP - 14 EP - 16 PB - IEEE ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Schels, Andreas A1 - Herdl, Florian A1 - Hausladen, Matthias A1 - Wohlfartsstätter, Dominik A1 - Bachmann, Michael A1 - Edler, Simon A1 - Düsberg, Felix A1 - Pahlke, Andreas A1 - Buchner, Philipp A1 - Schreiner, Rupert A1 - Hansch, Walter T1 - Beta Factor Mapping of Individual Emitting Tips During Integral Operation of Field Emission Arrays T2 - 2023 IEEE 36th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 10-13 July 2023, Cambridge, MA, USA N2 - Emission uniformity mappings of field emitter arrays provide important insight into degradation mechanisms, but are often laborious, non-integral, costly, or not quantifiable. Here, a low-cost Raspberry Pi HQ camera is used as an extraction anode to quantify the emission distribution in field emitter arrays. A verification measurement using controlled SEM electron beams proves, that current-voltage characteristics of individual emission sites can be determined by combining the integral electrical data with the image data. The characteristics are used to quantify the field enhancement factors of an 30x30 silicon field emitter array during integral operation. Comparison of the field enhancement factor distributions before and after a one-hour constant current operation at 1 µA shows an increase from 50 actively emitting tips before to 156 after the measurement. It is shown, that the distribution of field enhancement factors shifts towards lower values, due to the increasing degradation for high field enhancement tips, especially above 1500. KW - field emission KW - field emission imaging KW - field emission distribution KW - field enhancement factor KW - CMOS imaging KW - beta factor Y1 - 2023 SN - 979-8-3503-0143-4 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/IVNC57695.2023.10188957 SP - 224 EP - 226 PB - IEEE ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Buchner, Philipp A1 - Hausladen, Matthias A1 - Schels, Andreas A1 - Herdl, Florian A1 - Edler, Simon A1 - Bachmann, Michael A1 - Schreiner, Rupert T1 - An Integrated Silicon Nanowire Field Emission Electron Source on a Chip with High Electron Transmission T2 - 2023 IEEE 36th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 10-13 July 2023, Cambridge, MA, USA N2 - Silicon nanowire field emission arrays (50 × 50 pillars) were fabricated on a silicon glass hybrid wafer. The glass acts both as the support for the whole structure and insulator between cathode and extraction grid. The extraction grid matches the emitter structures and is optically aligned and adhered to the emitter chip by a vacuum compatible epoxide adhesive. These chips exhibit an emission current of about 600 μA at an extraction voltage of 300 V. The electron transmission through the grid is above 80 %. 58-hour longtime measurements were conducted showing low degradation of the emission current and high stability of electron transmission. KW - Semiconductor device measurement KW - Stimulated emission KW - Optical device fabrication KW - Glass KW - Power system stability KW - Insulators KW - Electron optics Y1 - 2023 SN - 979-8-3503-0143-4 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/IVNC57695.2023.10188878 SP - 6 EP - 8 PB - IEEE ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schels, Andreas A1 - Herdl, Florian A1 - Hausladen, Matthias A1 - Wohlfartsstätter, Dominik A1 - Edler, Simon A1 - Bachmann, Michael A1 - Pahlke, Andreas A1 - Schreiner, Rupert A1 - Hansch, Walter T1 - Quantitative Field Emission Imaging for Studying the Doping-Dependent Emission Behavior of Silicon Field Emitter Arrays JF - Micromachines N2 - Field emitter arrays (FEAs) are a promising component for novel vacuum micro- and nanoelectronic devices, such as microwave power amplifiers or fast-switching X-ray sources. However, the interrelated mechanisms responsible for FEA degradation and failure are not fully understood. Therefore, we present a measurement method for quantitative observation of individual emission sites during integral operation using a low-cost, commercially available CMOS imaging sensor. The emission and degradation behavior of three differently doped FEAs is investigated in current-regulated operation. The measurements reveal that the limited current of the p-doped emitters leads to an activation of up to 55% of the individual tips in the array, while the activation of the n-type FEA stopped at around 30%. This enhanced activation results in a more continuous and uniform current distribution for the p-type FEA. An analysis of the individual emitter characteristics before and after a constant current measurement provides novel perspectives on degradation behavior. A burn-in process that trims the emitting tips to an integral current-specific ideal field enhancement factor is observed. In this process, blunt tips are sharpened while sharp tips are dulled, resulting in homogenization within the FEA. The methodology is described in detail, making it easily adaptable for other groups to apply in the further development of promising FEAs. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14112008 VL - 14 IS - 11 PB - MDPI ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Hausladen, Matthias A1 - Buchner, Philipp A1 - Schels, Andreas A1 - Edler, Simon A1 - Bachmann, Michael A1 - Schreiner, Rupert T1 - An Integrated Field Emission Electron Source on a Chip Fabricated by Laser-Micromachining and Mems Technology T2 - 2023 IEEE 36th International Vacuum Nanoelectronics Conference (IVNC), 10-13 July 2023, Cambridge, MA, USA N2 - A silicon field emission electron source consisting of a cathode and a grid electrode has been fabricated by laser micromachining. The cathode features 21×21 tips on an area of 4×4 mm 2 , With a self-aligning MEMS technology for the aperture grid, a high electron transmission (99 %) was achieved. Onset voltages of 50…70 V were observed for an emission current of 1 nA. A stable emission current of 1 mA ± 1.3 % at an extraction voltage of 250 V was observed during a 30-min operation. KW - Apertures KW - Field Emission KW - Field Emission Array KW - Ions KW - Laser-Micromachining KW - Lasers KW - Micromechanical devices KW - Silicon KW - Silicon Field Emission Array KW - Steady-state KW - Vacuum systems Y1 - 2023 SN - 979-8-3503-0143-4 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1109/IVNC57695.2023.10189001 SP - 115 EP - 116 PB - IEEE ER -