Electrical characteristics and lifetimes of microdischarge devices having thin dielectric films of aluminum oxide,boron nitride, or barium titanate

摘要

The electrical (V-I) characteristics, radiative efficiencies, and lifetimes of Ni screen/dielectric/Ni microdischarge devices, having overall thicknesses as small as >100 /spl mu/m and cylindrical microchannels 50-150 /spl mu/m in diameter, are investigated for Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, BN, and BaTiO/sub 3/ dielectric films that are 120 or 200 /spl mu/m, 30 /spl mu/m, and 5 /spl mu/m in thickness, respectively. Having dielectrics fabricated by sol-gel processes or colloidal deposition and operated with Ne gas pressures between 300 and 1200 Torr (300K), these devices operate at voltages as low as /spl sim/93 V (100 /spl mu/m dia. BaTiO/sub 3/ device), and exhibit exceptional stability and lifetimes. After 100 h of continuous operation, a Ni screen/30 /spl mu/m BN/Ni device operating in 700 Torr Ne (static gas fill) at 100 V produces /spl sim/98% of its initial radiant output.