Field emission characteristics of oriented AlN thin film on tungsten tip

By using radio frequency magnetron reactive sputtering system, oriented AlN films with different thickness were deposited on tungsten tips. Compared studies of field emission characteristics were performed between the bare and AlN coated W tips. The results showed that enhanced electron emission can be obtained from oriented AlN film on W tip. The hysteresis behaviors shown in current-electric field (I-E) curves during downward electric field sweeps were observed and the extent of hysteresis in I-E curves strongly depended on the thickness of the AlN films. The stability measurement of field emission current presented that the hysteresis can be attributed to the charging in AlN film as an insulator.