Field emission characteristics of diamond coated molybdenum field emitters

Diamond deposition on single Mo field emitters was studied following microwave plasma CVD and biased dipping in a solution of diamond powder. TEM and SEM observation revealed a significant amount of diamond on the tip of the Mo emitter. The field emission characteristics of the Mo emitters were investigated before and after diamond deposition and data were analyzed using Fowler-Nordheim theory. After diamond coating, the emission current was found to increase by more than one order of magnitude compared to that of the same uncoated emitter. An explanation of this behavior is proposed.