US 8,430,705 B1Granted

Self assembly of field emission tips by capillary bridge formations

AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated

InventorsSanjiv Sambandan, John E. Northrup, Gregory L. Whiting, Robert A. Street

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Abstract

A first side has a first surface on which is located a material, at least a portion of which is to be formed into at least one tip. A second side has a second surface which is heated. At least one of the first and second surfaces being moved so material located on the first surface comes into physical contact with the second surface. Then at least one of the first side and the second side are moved, wherein the physical contact between the material and the second surface is maintained, causing the material to stretch between the second surface and the first surface, generating at least one capillary bridge. Movement is continued until the physical contact between the material and the second surface is broken resulting in the formation of at least one sharp conductive tip.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for self-assembly of field emission tips comprising:

providing a first side having a first surface on which is located in material to be formed into at least one field emission tip;
providing a second side having a second surface;
heating the second surface of the second side, to a predetermined temperature;
moving at least one of the first side and a second side, wherein physical contact is made between the material located on the first surface and the second surface;
maintaining the physical contact between the material on the first side and the second surface of the second side for an amount of time;
moving, after the amount of time, at least one of the first side and the second side away from the other side, wherein the physical contact between the material located on the first surface and the second surface is maintained causing the material to stretch between the second surface of the second side and the first side, generating at least one capillary bridge formation;
and
continuing to move at least one of the first side and the second side away from the other side, until the physical contact between the material located on the first surface and the second surface is broken, causing the formation of the material into a conductive tip.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.