An experimental study of the field emission characteristics of thin films of a new organic compound Ca-Cu-B

Cold cathode field electron emission from thin films of a new organic compo und Ca-Cu-B (B = betain) is observed. The microstructure of the film grown on an Al substrate by thermal evaporating technique is examined by scanning electron microscope and electron probe microanalysis, and it is found that a large number of carbon microparticles are embedded in the film. A transp arent anode is used to image the spatial distribution of the emission sites and to measure the I-V characteristics. stability ansi turn-on field of th e films. It is proposed that the presence of embedded carbon inclusions are responsible for the emission. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.