Electronic phenomena in nanodispersed thin films

Abstract

We review experimental data on the electron and photon emission from island metal films (IMFs) energized by passing current or by infrared laser irradiation. A model of nonequilibrium heating of the electron gas in nanoparticles is substantiated and used to interpret the experimental results. The applications of the island metal films are also exemplified.

Electron emission characteristics of Al–AlN granular films

“…However, the light emission could be observed when V f is about 5.3 V, which is defined as turn-on voltage. Yamamoto et al [9] reported that 100 nA emission current could be obtained with device voltage of 14.8 V for PdO emission cathode, and for pure island Au/Ag films the emission current can be measured with more than 10 V device voltage [3][4][5][6]. With the over-layer of BaO, Ba, or organic molecular the metal island films could emit electrons with about 5 V device voltage.…”

“…Strong electron emission was also obtained from patterned thin films of tin-indium oxide by Hartwell and Fonstad [2]. Electron emission from discontinuous thin metal films and semiconductor films was observed by some researchers [3][4][5][6]. Effect of low work function over-layer, such as BaO, organic molecular, on the electron emission properties were also researched [4,6].…”

Electroforming of continuous Al-AlN granular films

“…The SCE was proposed by Elinson [1] in 1965 and developed by Hartwell and Fonstad [2] in 1975. In addition, the SCE cathodes of discontinuous thin metal films and semiconductor films have also been extensively investigated [3][4][5][6][7][8]. The effect of low performance on electron emission was also examined by Fedorovivh et al [6,8].…”

“…There are two types of electron emitters, namely the single-layer film electron emitter and the double-layer film electron emitter. These two types of electron emitters both require the films to have a discontinuous structure [3][4][5][6][7][8]12,13]. For the single-layer film electron emitter, a discontinuous structure was obtained by adopting different deposition parameters [3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

Correlation between optical, structural, and sensor properties of nanostructures of nickel oxide on aluminum oxide substrates

“…Interest in technologies for fabrication and study of the physicochemical properties of nanosized structures made from transition metal oxides has grown significantly over the past decade, in connection with the search for new industrial applications. These structures, having electronic and hole conductivity at room temperature [1-3], sensor properties, photoconductivity, luminescence and absorption [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], are quite attractive for study. Important parameters of oxides include environmental friendliness, thermal stability and resistance to aging, and also low cost.…”