The effect of nitrogen addition on field emission of diamond-like carbon films

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films and nitrogen-doped DLC (N-DLC) films were d eposited on a molybdenum-coated ceramic substrate using the pulsed laser de position technique. The structure and surface morphology of the films were examined using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Auger electron spectr oscopy and scanning electron microscopy, Field emission measurements were c arried out, with the DLC or the N-DLC films as the cathode and ITO-coated g lass as the anode. The field emission measurements indicated that the nitro gen doping could lower the turn-on field and increase the current density. It was believed that the interface at the molybdenum-N-DLC film plays an im portant role in improving the field emission performance of the N-DLC film. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.