Field electron emission properties of TiC single crystals

Abstract

Very stable field electron emission from TiC single crystals was observed. No current fluctuations were included in an emission current of 10 μA in a vacuum of 10−8 Pa. Step- and spike-like current fluctuations were slightly included when the emission current was large. The frequency and the amplitude of the current fluctuations were largely dependent on the sorts of the residual gas molecules. For instance, when the total emission current was 10 μA, no current fluctuation was included in 10−6 Pa of H2; on the other hand, fluctuations of several percents were included in 10−7 Pa of O2.