An electron source according to the present disclosure includes a columnar portion made of a first material having an electron emission characteristic; and a tubular portion that is disposed to surround the columnar portion and made of a second material having a higher work function than the first material, wherein a hole that extends in a direction from one end face toward the other end face and has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape is formed in the tubular portion, and the columnar portion has a substantially triangular or substantially quadrangular cross-sectional shape and is fixed to the tubular portion in an abutting engagement with an inner surface of the hole.

A cathode mechanism of an electron emission source includes a crystal that includes an upper part being columnar, truncated conical, or their combined shape, and having a first surface to emit thermoelectrons, and a lower part, integrated with the upper part, having a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface, and a diameter larger than the maximum diameter of the upper part, a holding part that is a column having, in order from the holding part upper side, different inner diameters of a first diameter and a second diameter larger than the first one, and that holds the crystal in the state where the crystal first surface is projecting from the upper surface, and the crystal second surface contacts the holding part inside the column, and a retaining part that retains the crystal, at the back of the crystal lower part, not to be separated from the holding part.

Electron emitters and methods of fabricating the electron emitters are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, an electron emitter includes a tip with a planar region having a diameter in a range of approximately (0.05-10) micrometers. The electron emitter tip is configured to release field emission electrons. The electron emitter further includes a work-function-lowering material coated on the tip.

An array of carbon nanotube micro-tip structure includes an insulating substrate and a plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures. The insulating substrate includes a surface. The surface includes an edge. A plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures spaced from each other. Each of the plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures is partially arranged on the surface of the insulating substrate. Each of the plurality of patterned carbon nanotube film structures comprises two strip-shaped arms joined together forming a tip portion protruding and suspending from the edge of the surface of the insulating substrate. Each of the two strip-shaped arms comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes parallel to the surface of the insulating substrate.

Electron emitters and method of fabricating the electron emitters are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, an electron emitter includes a tip with a planar region having a diameter in a range of approximately (0.05-10) micrometers. The electron emitter tip is configured to release field emission electrons. The electron emitter further includes a work-function-lowering material coated on the tip.

Electron emitters and methods of fabricating the electron emitters are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, an electron emitter includes a tip with a planar region having a diameter in a range of approximately (0.05-10) micrometers. The electron emitter tip is configured to release field emission electrons. The electron emitter further includes a work-function-lowering material coated on the tip.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an emitter capable of easily and highly efficiently emitting electrons, an electron gun using same, and an electronic device.

This emitter is provided with a cathode holder, and an acicular substance secured to the cathode holder. An end, to which the acicular substance is secured, of the cathode holder is bent at α(α(°) satisfies 5<α≤70) that is an angle formed with respect to a cathode axis being the longitudinal direction of the cathode holder, the acicular substance is a single crystal nanowire or nanotube, and a relation L/T between the thickness T ( μm) of the end of the cathode holder and a length L ( μm) by which the acicular substance protrudes from the end satisfies 0.3≤L/T≤2.5.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an emitter capable of easily and highly efficiently emitting electrons, an electron gun using same, and an electronic device. This emitter is provided with a cathode holder, and an acicular substance secured to the cathode holder. An end, to which the acicular substance is secured, of the cathode holder is bent at α (α(°) satisfies 5<α≤70) that is an angle formed with respect to a cathode axis being the longitudinal direction of the cathode holder, the acicular substance is a single crystal nanowire or nanotube, and a relation L/T between the thickness T (μm) of the end of the cathode holder and a length L (μm) by which the acicular substance protrudes from the end satisfies 0.3≤L/T≤2.5.

A method for manufacturing an electron source according to the present disclosure includes steps of: (A) preparing a first member provided with a columnar portion made of a first material having an electron emission characteristic, (B) preparing a second member which has a higher work function and a lower strength than the first material, and in which a hole is formed extending in a direction from one end surface toward the other end surface, and (C) pushing the columnar portion into the hole in the second member, wherein the first member has a cross-sectional shape that is dissimilar to the cross-sectional shape of the hole; and in the step (C), by pressing the columnar portion into the hole, a portion of a side surface of the columnar portion scrapes the inner surface of the hole and bites into the second member, thereby fixing the columnar portion to the second member.

An electron source has an insulating base, a pair of conductive terminals, an insulating support member, a drift isolation member, an emitter-cathode, and one or more heating elements. The conductive terminals are exposed from a first surface of the insulating base. The insulating support member extends from the first surface of the insulating base. The drift isolation member is disposed at an end of the insulating support member remote from the insulating base. The emitter-cathode is coupled to the drift isolation member. The one or more heating elements are coupled to the conductive terminals and the drift isolation member. The combination of the drift isolation member with the insulating support member can prevent stress-induced drift from impacting position of the emitter-cathode, thereby improving the mechanical stability of the electron source.