Method of manufacturing thin-film field-emission electron source

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a thin-film field-emission electron source which is of a sandwich structure of a substrate - metallic film-insulating film - metallic film and which has at least one minute cavity and a field-emitter of, for example, a conical shape within the cavity, comprises the steps of (i) forming on a substrate a first layer of metallic film pattern for current supply, (ii) depositing a second layer film made of an electron emissive material onto the entire area of the substrate provided with the first layer, and thereafter subjecting the second layer film to a mesa etch by a photoetching process, to form a conical emitter on the first layer film, (iii) forming a third layer made of an insulating material, the third layer having a height substantially equal to the level of a tip portion of the emitter, (iv) forming a fourth layer of metallic film pattern as an accelerating electrode, and (v) etching the third layer, so as to expose the extremity of the emitter. According to the manufacturing method, a thin-film field-emission electron source can be readily produced merely by the combination between the standard evaporation techniques and etching techniques.

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