Implementation of the orthodoxy test as a validity check on experimental field emission data

Abstract

In field electron emission (FE) studies, it is important to check and analyse the quality and validity of experimental current-voltage data, which is usually plotted in one of a small number of standard forms. These include the so-called Fowler-Nordheim (FN), Millikan-Lauritsen (ML) and Murphy-Good (MG) plots. The Field emission orthodoxy test is a simple quantitative test that aims to check for the reasonableness of the values of the parameter “scaled field” that can be extracted from these plots. This is done in order to establish whether characterization parameters extracted from the plot will be reliable or, alternatively, likely to be spurious. This paper summarises the theory behind the orthodoxy test, for each of the plot forms, and confirms that it is easy to apply it to the newly developed MG plot. A simple, new, accessible web application has been developed that extracts scaled-field values from any of these three plot forms, and tests for lack of field emission orthodoxy.

Field Emission Properties of Polymer Graphite Tips Prepared by Membrane Electrochemical Etching

“…The field emission analysis is based on a finding presented in our previous work [ 11 ] reporting favorable properties’ tunneling behavior. For our analysis, we have increased the current density and inter-electrode distance, transferring the work mode to the field emission region, where it is possible to take advantage of the recent methodology developed by Forbes [ 25 , 26 , 27 ] and hence to fully characterize the tip as for the field-emission point of view.…”

The Murphy–Good plot: a better method of analysing field emission data

“…The formulae here envisage that researchers will use their raw I m ( V m ) data to make I m ( V m ) MG plots, and will then apply an orthodoxy test [18]––which must be passed if values for extracted (and related) characterization parameters are to be regarded as trustworthy. As indicated earlier, an orthodoxy test already exists for FN plots, and a modified version [28] will be made available shortly for MG plots. Hopefully, this should help to reduce the incidence of spuriously high FEF values reported in the literature.…”

Metal-organic structures as additives in polyvinylidene fluoride

“…The basis of the emission analysis is built upon Murphy-Good field electron emission theory. The so-called extended Murphy-Good equation (EMG) is employed [2,3]:…”

“…where A SN is the formal emission area assuming SN barrier tunneling, V R is a (constant) reference measured voltage [2] needed to pull the top of the SN barrier down to Fermi level [3], θ(φ) and η(φ) are scaling parameters, the parameter κ(η) is calculated: κ = 2 − η/6 [2].…”