Improving Fabrication and Performance of Porous Silicon Electron Emission Devices via Functional Layer Resistivity Modulation

To improve the process controllability and fabrication uniformity of porous silicon (PS)-based electron emission devices (EEDs), we employed an epitaxial (epi) silicon film as the functional layer, leveraging its advantages of high crystalline quality and flexibility of resistivity modulation regardless of the substrate. Precise modulation of the epi film resistivity was achieved via ion implantation. We investigated the effects of resistivity modulation on the fabrication process and device performance. This scheme enabled the formation of PS through electrochemical etching without illumination, and therefore etch self-termination. As a direct result, the etching uniformity in both the vertical and horizontal directions is enhanced. It then facilitated the optimization of the oxidation of the PS surface, which is essential for EED performance. The devices exhibited a maximum electron emission current density (<i>J_e</i>) of 80 μA/cm² with high stability. Driven under DC mode at a bias voltage (<i>V_ps</i>) of 23 V, <i>J_e</i> decreased temporarily to 28 μA/cm² after 4 h of continuous operation. This study provides a new feasible approach for research on PS EEDs.