Field-Excited Electron Emission from Ferroelectric Ceramic in Vacuum

Abstract
Electron emission into vacuum has been observed by applying pulse voltage to a thin plate of PZT ferroelectric ceramic. This electron emission has been obtained even in low vacuum of less than 10-1 Torr. The lowest pulse voltage for this emission is 75 V, and the largest emission current in a sample having a 7×0.3 mm2 electrode is 30 mA. The electrons are considered to be emitted from the surface of the ferroelectric plate near the electrode by very high field induced by polarization reversal. This electron emission can be applied as the electron emitter in vacuum electronic devices such as micro-triodes and flat panel displays.