The Effects of Dielectric Coatings on Electron Emission from Tungsten

Field electron emission measurements were performed on dielectric-coated tungsten emitters, with apex radii in the nanometer and micrometer range, which were prepared by electrochemical etching in NaOH solution. Measurements were performed in a field electron microscopy (FEM) with a base pressure <$10^{-6}$ Pascal ($10^{-8}$ mbar). Four different types of dielectric were used, namely: (1) Clark Electromedical Instruments epoxylite resin, (2) Epidian 6 produced by Ciech Sarzyna S. A., (3) a Radionox solution of colloidal graphite; and (4) Molyslip 2001 E compound ($MoS_2$ and MoS). Current-voltage measurements and FEM images were used to investigate the characteristics of these composite emitters, and to assess how the different types of dielectric coating affect the suitability of the composite emitter as a potential electron source.