Method for creating and maintaining a reducing atmosphere in a field emitter device

摘要

A Field Emitter Device (FED) having a substantially reducing atmosphere is described. The atmosphere in a FED can be maintained substantially free of oxidizing gases and includes a partial pressure of hydrogen between about 1x10-7 millibar (mbar) and 1x10-3 mbar. In one embodiment, a non-evaporable getter material previously charged with hydrogen gas is placed inside the FED before the FED is sealed. The non-evaporable getter material can be charged by exposure to hydrogen gas at a pressure between about 1x10-4 and about 2 bar. Subsequently, the components forming the FED are sealed, and the FED is evacuated and hermetically sealed to the outside atmosphere.