Patent ID: 6285118
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: B82Y,H01J

Abstract:
A field emission-type electron source comprising an electrically conductive substrate, a strong field drift layer formed on a surface of the electrically conductive substrate and an electrically conductive thin film formed on the strong field drift layer, wherein electrons, which are injected into the electrically conductive substrate, drift in the strong field drift layer to be emitted outward through the electrically conductive thin film by applying voltage between the electrically conductive thin film and the electrically conductive substrate in such a manner that the electrically conductive thin film acts as a positive electrode against the electrically conductive substrate, whereinthe strong field drift layer is formed by a process including an oxidation which comprises oxidizing a porous semiconductor layer at relatively lower temperature, the strong field drift layer including fine crystalline silicon layers of nano structure and silicon oxide films formed on surfaces of the fine crystalline silicon layers, each of the films having a thickness smaller than a diameter of crystal particles of the fine crystalline silicon layers.