Publication Date

2023

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Korampally, Venumadhav

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Electrical Engineering

Abstract

Coulomb Blockade effects in field emission provide interesting means of achieving brighter electron sources for numerous applications, ranging from vacuum electronics to the next generation of electron beam technology. Microelectronics cleanroom methods are presented in this thesis for production of field emission sources moderated by the Coulomb Blockade. The use of common processes is an essential step toward widespread experimentation with Coulomb Blockade-mediated field emission apparatuses. The main feature to be explored is the use of nano-diamond films for their potential applicability for this desired outcome. Ultra-Nanocrystalline Diamond is used in two different ways to achieve this, both as a large-area field emission source and as a precursor to the formation of Coulomb Islands at the apexes of single emitters. In addition, considerable progress was made toward the realization of a repeatable process for oxidative-sharpened Silicon field emitters. Ultra- Nanocrystalline Diamond was deposited differently for both routes (Nitrogen-doped and undoped grain boundaries) and analysis was provided of the ensuing morphology. The next stage involves nanoparticles being deposited over the Nitrogen-doped film on a flat substrate, while the undoped film can be used to grow a nanostructure on top of a chemically-sharpenedTungsten tip. Cathodes were subsequently placed within a vacuum DC chamber to measure I(V) characteristics of the field emission and extrapolate further data thereof.

Extent

127 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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