Triple-junction issues in field emission displays

This article addresses triple-junction issues related to vacuum insulation in field emission displays (FEDs), both from a theoretical and practical point of view. A technique to inhibit the triple-junction initiated breakdown in dielectric spacer insulation has been demonstrated. In order to simulate the vacuum insulation structure in a FED, thin-film electrodes bridged by a thin-wall-structured spacer were used. Using the developed technique, the breakdown voltage was improved from ∼10 to ∼21 kV for the first run and ∼13 to 24 kV for the conditioned regime. The mechanism of breakdown of the solid insulator is discussed.