Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
To improve silicon field emitters, diamond and carbon nitride coatings were applied by hot filament CVD and helical resonator CVD, respectively. Helical resonator CVD was first proposed as a new method to grow carbon nitride on silicon tips without damage. Diamond and carbon nitride coatings lowered turn-on voltage and increased emission current. Microstructural and electronic investigations of carbon nitride film were performed. The negative electron affinity of carbon nitride is suggested for enhancing emission current.