9712305 Outten **** This Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer project, the proposers will seek to optimize the electronic properties of a revolutionary new family of thin-@ coating materials, "Diamond-like Nanocomposites (DLN) for use as a cathode material in field emission displays. This will be accomplished by doping the DLN films with low work function metals. The performance of the @s will be evaluated by the magnitude of threshold electric field, total emission current, emission current density, emission stability, uniformity of emission sites, and device lifetime. The optimal DLN deposition parameter space will be mapped and investigated. Device performance will be correlated with film structure, composition, and electronic properties. The technological/ economic hurdles to prototype and product development will be analyzed, and based on this a roadmap developed for eventual large scale integration of DLN technology into field emission display production.. DLN films represent a novel structure of matter, and offer significant advantages over many current diamond and diamond-like carbon thin film coating technologies. The films exhibit a unique and highly tailorable suite of properties. A low cost approach to large area FED manufacturing will result from the successful use of DLN thin film technology. Replacement of conventional materials could result in considerable savings in materials and production costs. ***
