Switching kinetics of and electron emission from ferroelectric thin films

With the aim to establish the conditions for integrating a ferroelectric electron emission system, and thus to develop a micro electron beam source, further studies on PZT thin films have been performed. In order to obtain a higher emission current density, we have modified the top electrode, and the switching of such structures is examined. Previous results, indicating the existence of a border effect, are confirmed, and we show a dependence of polarization inversion by an electric field on the electrode geometry. Latest results of the emission experiments with PZT thin films are presented, which equally prove the importance of fast polarization inversion for the appearance of intense electron emission.