We have examined endurance of Spindt-type field emitter arrays (FEAs) again
st oxygen ambient. In this study,: the endurance of four different emitter
materials, Ni, Pt,Au, and Mo was investigated. The electron emission charac
teristics of FEAs with 1 to 1600 tips were measured in ultrahigh vacuum (UH
V) and in oxygen ambient. For all the FEAs, the emission current decreased
with an increase in oxygen pressure. Some of the emitters were destructed d
uring the emission test in oxygen ambient. The detailed analyses of the emi
ssion characteristics were performed by calculating the noise power and obs
erving the emission pattern on the phosphor screen. The noise power increas
ed with an increase in oxygen pressure. Emission pattern on the phosphor sc
reen showed enlarged emission area,as compared with the pattern obtained in
UHV. The present results indicated that even the Pt emitters were affected
by the ambient oxygen. The,elimination of oxygen is the essential subject
for the development of field emission display. (C) 1999 American Vacuum Soc
iety. [S0734-211X(99)11002-3].