Thin film ferroelectric flat panel display devices, and methods for operating and fabricating same

A flat panel display comprising:

• first and second spaced apart electrodes, said first and second spaced apart electrodes producing an electric field therebetween upon application of a predetermined voltage therebetween;
• a polycrystalline ferroelectric thin film having (001) crystal orientation and having thickness of about 2 microns or less, between said first and second spaced apart electrodes, said ferroelectric thin film emitting electrons therefrom in an electron emission path upon application of said predetermined voltage between said first and second spaced apart electrodes;
• and
• a luminescent layer in said electron emission path, said luminescent layer producing luminescence upon impingement of the emitted electrons thereon.

A flat panel display comprising:

• first and second electrode arrays, said first and second electrode arrays being spaced apart from one another to define an array of electrode pairs, said electrode pairs producing an electric field therebetween upon application of a predetermined voltage therebetween;
• a ferroelectric thin film between each of said electrode pairs, said ferroelectric thin film emitting electrons therefrom in an electron emission path for each electrode pair, upon application of said predetermined voltage between said electrode pair;
• and
• a luminescent layer in said electron emission path of each electrode pair, said luminescent layer producing luminescence upon impingement of the emitted electrons thereon.

A method of fabricating a flat panel display comprising the steps of:

• forming a first electrode array on a substrate;
• forming a polycrystalline ferroelectric thin film on said first electrode array;
• forming a second electrode array on said polycrystalline ferroelectric thin film to define an electron emission path from said polycrystalline ferroelectric thin film upon application of a predetermined voltage between said first and second electrode arrays;
• and
• forming a luminescent layer in said electron emission path such that said luminescent layer produces luminescence upon impingement of electrons thereon.