Field-emission enhancement of Mo-tip field-emitted arrays fabricated by using a redox method

This work has improved the emission characteristics for Mo-tips of field-emitter array (FEA) through a reduction-oxidation (redox) process. The maximum emission current of the 1600 tips array significantly increased from 23.2 μA to 2.36 mA with the turn-on voltage decreasing from 70 V to 48 V after the redox treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate that the main factor improving electron field emission characteristics for the Mo-tips is the increase in enhancement factor (/spl beta/) and, possibly, number of emission sites of Mo films.