EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M71404/01
Title: FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES OF NOVEL PRINTABLE CATHODES FOR DISPLAYS
Principal Investigator: Harker, Professor A
Other Investigators:
Stoneham, Professor AM
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Printable Field Emitters Ltd
Department: Centre for Materials Research
Organisation: UCL
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 December 1999 Ends: 30 November 2002 Value (£): 117,730
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Displays
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Electronics
Related Grants:
GR/M70742/01 GR/M71398/01
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The metal-insulator-metal-insulator-vacuum (MIMIV) composite cathode material is a UK invention with great potential for mass manufacturable flat panel displays using low cost printing techniques for cathode pixellation. MIMIV cathodes contain micron scale metal or semiconductor particles embedded in a dielectric film. Electron emission at very low applied fields is thought to involve the formation of conducting channels above and below the embedded particle at the metal insulator vacuum (MIV) and metal insulator metal (MIM) interfaces. The fundamental mechanisms of this Field Enhanced Hot Electron Emission (FIHEE) process are not understood and will be fully investigated experimentally and theoretically using model microfabricated experimental structures - MIM, MIV and full MIMIV cathodes to mimic the composite cathode materials. Experimental measurements will include electrical emission characteristics and energy spread as well as SEM structural studies of channel formation. Theories of channel formation and electron emission will be developed with extensive software modelling, then tested with a further round of model cathodes. Factors affecting reliability, stability and performance degradation will be studied and understood. In this way the commercial development of the novel composite cathodes can take place with the essential, underpinning of fundamental scientific understanding.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: