Search for content and authors
 

The structural and electron field emission properties of ion-beam-synthesised metallic-dielectric nanocomposites

Wei-Mong Tsang 1Vlad Stolojan 1Sai-Peng Wong 2Jorg Lindner 3Brian Sealy 1Ravi P. Silva 1

1. University of Surrey, School of Electronics and Physical Sciences, Guildford Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
2. Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 0852, Hong Kong
3. Universität Augsburg, Institut für Physik, Augsburg D-86135, Germany

Abstract

Metallic nanoclusters embedded in dielectric matrices have attracted a significant research interest because of their uniquely optical and magnetic properties. In this work, we show how the electron field emission (FE) properties of these nanocomposites can potentially form the basis for the next generation vacuum nanoelectronic electron sources. The study of FE of metallic-dielectric nanocomposites is motivated by creating a local field enhancement arising from the isolated conductive clusters embedded in an electrically insulating matrix. Metallic-dielectric nanocomposites, including Ag-SiO2, Co-SiO2 and WC-SiC, were synthesised by metal ions implantation onto a dielectric on Si substrates. The WC-SiC nanocomposites fabricated under appropriate conditions show the best FE properties with thresholds field less than 1 V/μm. Moreover, the optimised threshold fields of Ag-SiO2 and Co-SiO2 nanocomposites are determined to be 13 and 5 V/μm, respectively and are still comparable to other FE materials. The structural properties of these samples were systematically studied by atomic force microscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The FE properties of these samples are critically dependent on their structure and can be understood by the electrical inhomogeneity and geometric local field enhancement effects. Finally, the details of the dependence of fabrication conditions on the structure and FE mechanisms in these samples will be presented.

 

Legal notice
  • Legal notice:
 

Presentation: Oral at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2006, Symposium A, by Wei-Mong Tsang
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2006

Submitted: 2006-06-01 11:57
Revised:   2009-06-07 00:44