Cc. Wang et al., A NEW FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR FIELD-EMISSION TRIODES WITH EMITTER-GATE SEPARATION OF 0.18-MU-M, JPN J A P 2, 34(1A), 1995, pp. 85-87
A new fabrication technology has been used for field-emission triodes
with the emitter-gate separation as small as 0.18 mum to reduce the tu
rn-on and anode voltages. The technology is based on the thermal oxida
tion of silicon and low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) of
polycrystalline silicon, making the fabrication of a sub-half-micronme
ter gate opening easy and reproducible. The entire process requires us
e of only one photolithography mask, and does not require advanced hig
h-resolution photolithographic techniques. In this device, the oxidati
on process serves the three purposes of sharpening the emitters, defin
ing the emitter-gate separation, and achieving a high-quality insulato
r. The finished devices have the emitter situated exactly at the cente
r of the gate opening due to a self-alignment process. Furthermore, th
e LPCVD polysilicon film can form gate electrodes with a smooth edge a
nd a small gate opening due to excellent step coverage.