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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Electrochemical Etching and Characterization of Sharp Field Emission Points for Electron Impact Ionization
Published on: July 12, 2016
A single-atom sharp iridium tip as an emitter of gas field ion sources
Hong-Shi Kuo1, Ing-Shouh Hwang, Tsu-Yi Fu
1Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Abstract:
We report a reliable method for preparing a pure Ir single-atom tip by thermal treatment in oxygen. The atomic structure of the tip apex and its ion emission characteristics are investigated with field ion microscopy. We have shown that the Ir single-atom tip can be a good field ion emitter, capable of emitting a variety of gas ion beams, such as He+, H2+, N2+, and O2+, with high brightness and stability. In addition, this tip can easily be maintained and regenerated in vacuum, ensuring it has sufficient lifetime for practical applications.
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