Carbon-Coated Electron Field Emitters

The properties of field electron emitters made of iridium and rhenium, whose surface is coated with carbon by decomposition of benzene molecules on the surface, are studied. The stability of the emission characteristics and the stability of the obtained emitters to the adsorption of residual gas molecules and ion bombardment are shown. The coating is obtained either in the form of a monoatomic graphene film on the flat faces of the emitter, or in the form of graphite growths. The field electron emission is localized on the edges and corners of the faceted graphite outgrowth. After adsorption of alkaline and alkaline earth metals onto the carbon coating, an abnormally large increase in emissions from flat faces and localization of emissions on graphene-coated faces occurs. The emission amplification occurs in the presence of alkali metal atoms, both on the surface and only under the graphene film.