Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-2lccl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T04:50:48.716Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Lifetime and Stability of Carbon Cold Cathodes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

R. L. Fink ,
L. H. Thuesen ,
Z. Li Tolt ,
Zvi Yaniv  and
Colleen M. Marrese
R. L. Fink
Affiliation:
Field Emission Picture Element Technology, Inc.(FEPET, Inc.), 3006 Longhorn Blvd., Suite 107, Austin, TX 78758, USA
L. H. Thuesen
Affiliation:
Field Emission Picture Element Technology, Inc.(FEPET, Inc.), 3006 Longhorn Blvd., Suite 107, Austin, TX 78758, USA
Z. Li Tolt
Affiliation:
Field Emission Picture Element Technology, Inc.(FEPET, Inc.), 3006 Longhorn Blvd., Suite 107, Austin, TX 78758, USA
Zvi Yaniv
Affiliation:
Field Emission Picture Element Technology, Inc.(FEPET, Inc.), 3006 Longhorn Blvd., Suite 107, Austin, TX 78758, USA
Colleen M. Marrese
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, 1320 Beal, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Get access

Abstract

We present the results of tests measuring the life of carbon cold cathodes and determining what conditions limit the life of the cathode. Cathode life and stability are important for a broad range of applications, including displays, electron sources for satellite thrusters, x-ray tubes and microwave devices. Cathodes were tested in vacuum chambers using different gas environments as well as in sealed and gettered glass envelopes. We measured emission current half-lives of 10,000 - 20,000 hours or more in sealed display devices, depending on operating conditions. The presence of a significant oxygen or water partial pressure degrades the life of the cathode. After removing the gases the decay rate was restored to near the original value. A similar partial pressure of hydrogen gas has little or no effect on the life of the cathode. Initial results of operation in a xenon environment indicate carbon cold cathodes are much more robust compared to microtip cathodes. These results will be discussed with respect to the various applications considered for carbon cold cathodes.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 558: Symposium B – Flat-Panel Displays and Sensors-Principles, Materials… , 1999 , 97
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Yaniv, Z.: Nikkei Microdevices’ Flat Panel Display 1998 Yearbook, pub. by Nikkei Business Publications, p. 186.Google Scholar
2. Fink, R. L., Tolt, Z. Li, Yaniv, Z.: SID Digest of Tech. Papers 29 (1998) 572.Google Scholar
3. Joshi, A. and Nimmagadda, R.: J. Mater. Res. 6 (1991) 1484.Google Scholar
4. Liou, Y. et al. : J. Mater. Res. 5 (1990) 2305.Google Scholar
5. Mucha, J. A. et al. : J. Appl. Phys. 65 (1989) 3448.Google Scholar
6. Holloway, Paul H. et al. : Solid State Technology (August, 1995) 47; See also R. O. Petersen: Proceedings of the 3rd Intl. Display Workshops, 2 (Nov. 1996) p. 17–20 for more references.Google Scholar
7. Weber, A., Hoffman, U., Löhken, T. and Klages, C. -P.: SID Digest of Tech. Papers 28 (1997) 591.Google Scholar
8. Jung, J. H., Ju, B. K., Lee, Y. H., Oh, M. H. and Jang, J.: SID Digest of Tech. Papers 28 (1997) 329.Google Scholar
9. A review of cold cathode technology in electronic propulsion systems was submitted to the Journal of Propulsion and Power: Special Issue on Microspacecraft Propulsion, by Marrese, C. M., Polk, J. E., Jensen, K. L., Gallimore, A. D, Spindt, C., Fink, R. L., Tolt, Z. L. and Palmer, W. D..Google Scholar