SBIR-STTR Award

SKION has found the cesiated amorphous diamond/Si structure which demonstrated the 7-10 V/micron turn-on voltage on planar geometry. Negative electron affinity property of the diamond surface had been reported previously. However, this exceptional super-high brightness electron emission behavior is believed to be a new mechanism due to the composite structure of cesium, oxygen and carbon. The high turn-on voltage has been a major hurdle for the field emitter to be widely used in Flat Panel Display (FPD) market. Experts anticipate that the field emitter FPD will overwhelm today's Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) FPD market if the turn-on voltage gets down to less than 5 V/micron. SKION's new findings will provide a breakthrough in the FPD industry. This novel structure is believed to be formed due to the characteristics of SKION's unique patented ion beam technology; capable of controlling flux ratio of cesium/carbon and the energy of the carbon ion beam. Furthermore, SKION's ion beam technology is applicable over large areas. The behavior of super-high brightness electron emission will be investigated in this SBIR Phase I in collaboration with Dr. J. Cuomo at North Carolina State University. In Phase II, the prototype display will be demonstrated and commercialization strategy will be sought.

Based on successful accomplishments in Phase I,SKION - in collaboration with FED Corporation and Varia -- will fabricate prototype field emission displays (FED) for testing and evaluation.SKION's new film structure eliminates the last barrier to the commercial development of lowoperating voltage Field EmissionsDisplays (FED).Until now, high turn-on voltages and associatedreliability concerns have blocked FED development. Experts anticipate that FED's will overwhelmtoday's Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) market if theturn-on voltage drops below 5 V/micron. SKION'spartially oxidizedcesiated diamond structure hasdemonstrated a 7-10 V/micron turn-on voltage.Investigations from Phase I have shown theremakable stability of the films up to 750 C,ensuring their resistance to subsequent hightemperature processing. Their desirableproperties are relatively insensitive to surfacecleanliness; films left in the ambient laboratory environment for more than six months showed lowthresholds. The negative electron affinity property of the diamond surface had been reportedpreviously. In this case, the electron emissionbrightness is believed to be due to the compositestructure of cesium, oxygen and carbon. Thisnovel emitter structure owes its existence to SKION's unique patented ion beam technology;capable of controlling the energy and flux rationof cesium and carbon. SKION's ion beam technologyis economical and easily scaled up to large areas.The behavior of this super-high brightnesselectron emission film was investigated during SBIR Phase I in collaboration with Dr. J. Cuomo atNorth Carolina State University. In Phase II, Dr.Cuomo will continue to support the development.For the prototype display fabrication, FED Corporation and Varian will participate this program providing a matching funds.

Keywords:
DIAMOND THIN FILM, ION BEAM DEPOSITION, NEGATIVE CARBON ION FIELD, FIELD EMISSION DISPLAY