Experimental investigation of antiferroelectric cold cathode for strong electron emission

Antiferroelectric lead lanthanum zirconate stannate titanate (PLZST) ceramics samples near the ferroelectric-antiferroelectric phase boundary are prepared by a traditional solid-state reaction process. The influences of the driving voltage and extracting voltage on emission current are obtained by measuring the electron emission property of PLZST stimulated by rapid monopulse voltage. The emission current is enhanced with the increasing of driving voltage. When the driving voltage is higher than 1.5 kV, the emission current is saturated. When the driving voltage is 800 V and the accelerating voltage is 0 V, the emission current density is 1.27 A/cm², and when the driving voltage is 800 V and the accelerating voltage is 4 kV, a strong emission current density with 1700 A/cm² is obtained. It is found that strong electron emission from PLZST antiferroelectric ceramic cathode can be realized under lower driving voltage at room temperature and the emission current density is high. The PLZST antiferroelectric ceramic cathode can work at the vacuum of 4 Pa.