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Advanced Si-based semiconductor technology is most suitable to fabricate uniform nanostructures as integrated field emitter arrays for novel vacuum electronic devices. In order to improve the field emission homogeneity and stability of p-type silicon tip arrays for pulsed sensor applications, the authors have systematically studied the influence of the fabrication parameters on the tip shape and on the specific operating conditions. Based on detailed design calculations of the field enhancement, they have fabricated two series of hexagonal arrays of B-doped Si-tips in a triangular arrangement. The first (second) type contains three (four) patches with different number of tips (1, 91, 547 and 1, 19, 1027, 4447 for the first and second type, respectively) of about 1 (2.5) μm height, ∼20 (20) nm apex radius, and 20 (10) μm pitch. The field emission properties of both individual tips and complete arrays were investigated with a field emission scanning microscope at a pressure of 10−9 mbar. The current plateau of these tips typically occurs at about 10 (3) nA and around 65 (25) V/μm field level. In this carrier saturation range, single tips provide the highest current stability (<5%) and optical current switching ratio (∼2.5). Fairly homogeneous emission of the tip arrays leads to an undershooting of the expected linear scaling of the mean plateau current as well as to a much improved current stability (<1%).
The performance of free electron lasers depends on the brilliance of the electron source. Nowadays photo-cathodes (e.g. Cs2Te) are used despite of their high emittance. To develop robust and more brilliant cathodes we have built up an UHV system which enables systematic photoemission (PE) measurements with a tunable pulsed laser (hv) at high electric fields (E). First results on Au and Ag crystals revealed only low quantum efficiency (QE) due to fast electron relaxation. Hence, we have started QE(hv,E) investigations on n- and p-Si wafers. Resonant PE was observed above as well as below the work function O, which can be assigned to optical transitions in the electronic band structure or explained by thermally excited states at the bottom of the conduction band. As expected, only low QE values were achieved even for n-Si probably due to surface oxide. Moreover, a significant rise of the QE peaks above O were obtained for n-Si at E >8 MV/m but limited by the occurrence of parasitic field emission from dust particles.
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.
We have constructed a new ultrahigh vacuum apparatus with a triode configuration for the systematic investigation of photo-induced field emission (PFE) from metallic or semiconducting cathodes. These are exposed to electric fields up to 400 MV∕m and laser irradiation by means of hole or mesh gates. Cathodes and gates are in situ exchangeable and adjustable with high precision to ensure a homogeneous extraction of electrons which are partially transmitted to the fixed electron spectrometer. Its hemispherical sector analyzer provides an energy resolution limit of 8 meV. The commissioning of the measurement system has been performed with a tungsten needle. Its temperature showed up in the high-energy tail of the electron spectrum, while its work function was derived from the spectral low-energy part combined with the integral current-voltage curve. First PFE measurements on B-doped Si-tip arrays yielded a small field emission current increase under green laser illumination. A shift and splitting of the energy spectra was observed which revealed different emission regimes as well as the photosensitivity of the cathode due to carrier excitation into the conduction band. For the full exploitation of the PFE system, a tunable laser over a wide eV-range is required.
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.
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.
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.
Feldemissionselektronenquellen sind aufgrund ihrer prinzipiellen Vorteile gegenüber Glühkathoden bereits seit längerer Zeit Gegenstand der Forschung und werden bisher nur in einigen Spezialanwendungen erfolgreich eingesetzt. Hierbei werden Einzelspitzen mit Spannungen im kV-Bereich und Strömen im nA-Bereich betrieben. Dagegen werden für miniaturisierte Sensorsysteme eher Spannungen von ca. 100 V und Ströme von ca. 1 mA benötigt. Dazu wurden bisher meist Feldemissionskathoden mit CNTs vorgeschlagen, welche für Anwendungen in der Halbleiterindustrie aufgrund des Kohlenstoffanteils nicht erwünscht sind. Ziel unserer Arbeit ist es, Si-basierte Elektronenquellen zu realisieren, die mit anderen miniaturisierten Vakuumsensoren auf einem Chip integrierbar sind. Mithilfe eines optimierten Herstellungsprozesses konnten wir p-Si-Spitzenarrays mit Spitzenradien von wenigen nm realisieren [1]. Messungen an diesen Strukturen zeigen ein sehr homogenes Emissionsverhalten, das vor allem im Sättigungsbereich bei Emissionsströmen von ca. 10 nA pro Spitze zeitlich stabil (Schwankungen < 5 %) und optisch schaltbar (Faktor > 2.5) ist [2].
The finite element simulation program COMSOL Multiphysics® was used to simulate the emission efficiency of a silicon tip electron source in triode configuration for different geometries and electrode potentials. The simulation predicts a maximum emission efficiency of 84% for an optimized structure. In a second simulation a gate electrode was concentrically arranged above a single CNT column. Here, the efficiency was simulated as a function of gate hole geometry, electrode potentials and distances between the electrodes. The simulation shows that a conical shape of the gate hole results in an efficiency up to nearly 100%.
Forschungsbericht 2012
(2012)