Field emission from polymer-converted carbon films by ultraviolet radiation

A polymer, poly(phenylcarbyne) (PPC), was converted to carbon film by ultra violet pulsed-laser (KrF, lambda =248 nm) irradiation in nitrogen atmospher e at room temperature. The irradiated PPC consisted of fine graphitic carbo n particles of several tens of nm in size, and exhibited good field emissio n properties. Low turn-on emission field of 2 V/mum (at 1 nA/cm(2)), high e mission current density of 20 mA/cm(2) (at 12 V/mum), and high emission lum inescent spots density of 10(4)/cm(2) were observed for the polymer film ir radiated by a pulsed-laser fluence of 40 mJ/cm(2). We demonstrate multiple- lines and 2x5 array field emission patterns using the laser irradiation of PPC. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.