Self-texturing of nitrogenated amorphous carbon thin films for electron field emission

Abstract

The electron field-emission process for nitrogenated amorphous carbon ~a-C:H:N! thin films deposited using a magnetically confined hydrocarbon plasma is examined. The morphology of the films obtained using an atomic force microscope is compared to the field-emission properties. Beyond a chemical composition of 14 at. % nitrogen, the mirror smooth a-C:H:N films become self-texturing, and multiple ‘‘domelike’’ cathodes of nanometer scale are observed. The dimensions of these ‘‘domelike’’ cathodes varies with time, and after a 15 min deposition have dimensions of approximately 50 nm base diameter and 20 nm in height. When the electronic field emission of these textured films ~N content 15 at. %! are measured, there is an enhancement in the emitted current density of ;2 orders of magnitude at an electric field of 20 V/mm, in comparison to the untextured films with a nitrogen content of 11 at. %.

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