FIELD-EMISSION FROM NARROW BANDS ABOVE THE FERMI-LEVEL OF NANOMETER-SCALE OBJECTS

Field emission from localized narrow bands above the Fermi level (E(F) ) are obtained in two nanometer-scale systems: gold nanoclusters depos ited on W support tips and nanotips that are W nanoscale protrusions f ormed on W support tips. The shift of localized bands was used as a pr obe of the tunneling process. The emission above E(F) is explained by considering the role of the tail of the Fermi function in supplying el ectrons to these localized levels. Conservation of energy is consisten t with this process. The emission of hot electrons opens the possibili ty of local cooling of nanostructures.