Popis: |
Electron field emission and electrical conductivity of undoped and nitrogen doped DLC films have been investigated. The films were grown by the PE CVD method from CH4:H2 and CH4:H2:N2 gas mixtures, respectively. By varying nitrogen content in the gas mixture over the range 0 to 45%, corresponding concentrations of 0 to 8 % (atomic) could be achieved in the films. Three different gas pressures were used in the deposition chamber: 0.2, 0.6 and 0.8 Torr. Emission current measurements were performed at approximately 10−6 Torr using the diode method with emitter-anode spacing set at 20 gm. The current - voltage characteristics of the Si field electron emission arrays covered with DLC films show that threshold voltage (Vth) varies in a complex manner with nitrogen content. As a function of nitrogen content, Vth initially increases rapidly, then decreases and finally increases again for the highest concentration. Corresponding Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) plots follow F-N tunneling over a wide range. The F-N plots were used for determination of the work function, threshold voltage, field enhancement factor and effective emission area. For a qualitative explanation of experimental results, we treat the DLC film as a diamond-like (sp3 bonded) matrix with graphite-like inclusions. |