Patent ID: 6771010
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H01J,Y10S

Abstract:
A high emission electron emitter for injecting electrons into a vacuum towards a collection electrode, comprising:an electron injection layer including a front-side surface and a back-side surface, the electron injection layer is biased to a first voltage, the electron injection layer comprises an electrically conductive material selected from the group consisting of a n+ semiconductor, n+ single crystal silicon, an electrically conductive silicide, an electrically conductive nitride, a metal, and a layer of metal on a glass substrate, and the electrically conductive silicide is selected from the group consisting of a titanium silicide and a platinum silicide, and the electrically conductive nitride comprises a titanium nitride; an active layer of high porosity porous silicon material in contact with the front-side surface; a contact layer of low porosity porous silicon material in contact with the active layer and including an interface surface; and an n-type heavily doped region extending inward of the interface surface, the n-type heavily doped region characterized by a low resistivity, the n-type heavily doped region is biased to a second voltage that is at a higher positive potential relative to the first voltage, and wherein the collector electrode is biased to a third voltage that is at a higher positive potential relative to the second voltage so that electrons are injected into the vacuum towards the collector electrode.