The electron field emission properties of Ag-SiO/sub 2/ nanocomposite layers

This paper investigates the introduction of nano-sized Ag cluster into a SiO/sub 2/ matrix by Ag/sup +/ implantation on thermally oxidised SiO/sub 2/ layers. The embedded Ag nanoclusters create conducting paths for the emissive electrons from substrate to emission surface and give rise to a local electric field enhancement due to an electrical inhomogeneity effect.