Polycrystalline diamond emitter
First Claim
1. A polycrystalline diamond emitter having an ultrasharp edge or point, said emitter comprising a multiplicity of diamond particles molecularly bonded together with the cohesion of natural diamond, all of said diamond particles being of a size less than 100 angstroms and being uniform in size within a range of 50 angstroms, said diamond particles being uniformly oriented to present like faces to said edge or point to define a uniform edge or point having a radius of from 3 to 100 angstroms, said emitter having at least in the portion forming said edge or point uniform inclusions of low work function metal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasharp diamond edges and points which are usable as high intensity point sources for the emission of electrons, ions, X-rays, coherent and incoherent light and high frequency electromagnetic radiation are produced by preparing and classifying ultrafine diamond powder having a particle size of 10 to 100 angstroms, placing the powder in a diamond mold defining the ultrasharp edge or point to be produced and applying a pressure of the order of 80 to 90 kb while heating the powder to a temperature of the order of 2440° K. in an ultrahigh vacuum or inert atmosphere after degasing to avoid oxidation of the diamond powder.
63 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A polycrystalline diamond emitter having an ultrasharp edge or point, said emitter comprising a multiplicity of diamond particles molecularly bonded together with the cohesion of natural diamond, all of said diamond particles being of a size less than 100 angstroms and being uniform in size within a range of 50 angstroms, said diamond particles being uniformly oriented to present like faces to said edge or point to define a uniform edge or point having a radius of from 3 to 100 angstroms, said emitter having at least in the portion forming said edge or point uniform inclusions of low work function metal.
Specification