Apparatus comprising field emitters.

摘要

A novel and advantageous cathode structure for a field emission display apparatus is disclosed. A given pixel comprises a multiplicity of spaced apart emitter bodies (147) on a support (141). A given emitter body comprises diamond and/or rare earth boride, and has a relatively sharp geometrical feature that facilitates electron emission from the emitter body. Exemplarily the emitter body comprises in situ grown diamond, or it comprises a pre-existing diamond particle that was placed on the support. Such emitter bodies generally can be provided easily and at low cost, and typically have naturally occurring sharp geometrical features such as points and edges. We have also discovered that appropriately grown rare earth boride films of thickness 30 nm or less may substantially improve electron emission from emitter bodies, and some preferred embodiments of the invention comprise a cathode structure that comprises a thin layer of, e.g., LaB6 on the emitter bodies. Exemplary methods of making cathodes according to the invention are also disclosed.