A model of dispenser cathode activity

A semiquantitative model of dispenser cathode activity based on recent work on the co-adsorption of Ba and O onto W surfaces is presented. The co-adsorption studies have determined the shape of a three-dimensional surface of work function as a function of θ_O and θ_Ba, the surface coverages of O and Ba, respectively. Compositions of a variety of pedigreed dispenser cathodes were fitted to this surface and their composition changes during lifetime were modeled. Changes of surface composition with temperature and of workfunction, φ, with temperature were also found to fit these curves. The concept of a patchy surface implied by the co-adsorption measurements was used to explain earlier results on the shape of the X-ray excited Ba MNN Auger feature. Finally, SIMS measurements under UHV conditions was found to provide an extremely sensitive measurement of surface composition in the region of surface coverages of interest in the study of cathode phenomena. Extensions of this work to other types of cathodes such as M-types, and rhenium substrate cathodes is also discussed.     

Work function distribution for W-Ir mixed metal matrix cathodes

Mixed metal matrix cathodes have inherent non-uniformity and patchiness of emission due to the presence of two-alloy phase structure on the surface. I-V characteristics of cathode studied in a close spaced diode configuration is one of the easy and cost effective methods to estimate the variation of work function on the cathode surface. Tungsten iridium mixed metal matrix dispenser cathodes of Ø1.4 mm (80 wt.% W-20 wt.% Ir) have been fabricated in the laboratory and their I-V characteristics have been investigated in diode configuration. In this paper the model suggested by Tonnerre et al. has been used to find out the work function distribution of W-Ir cathodes from I-V characteristics. An attempt has been made to correlate the microstructure with the work function values.     

“Alternative” auger analysis reveals important properties of M-type and scandate cathodes

It is shown that in the evaluation of Auger spectra, as measured on cathode surfaces, the elemental sensitivities have to be corrected for differences in elemental number density. The substrate and the surface covering material have to be treated differently in the analysis. The result for normal M-type cathodes is that — besides the Ba---O cover — there is an excess oxygen concentration on the surface of about two times the Ba---O concentration. This in spite of the fact that the oxygen to barium peak-to-peak height ratio in the measured spectra is about equal to 2. For a degraded M-cathode the excess oxygen level is found to be much higher than for the normal cathodes. A new type of scandate cathode is described and discussed. Its analysis shows more Ba and, relatively, much less excess oxygen than for the M-type cathodes. This may account for the substantially higher emission.     

Changes in surface chemistry of an Ir---W mixed metal coated cathode during activation

A comparative study has been made between a mixed metal (60% Ir-40%W) coated cathode and a “B” cathode during activation and also in their respective steady states. The rate limiting factor in the activation of the coated cathode is the oxidation of the initial Ba type surface to a BaO type surface. Since on the “B” cathode Ba and O emerge together, its activation is faster than the coated cathode. In the steady state of operation, both cathodes exhibit a surface near BaO stoichiometry which is the optimum composition for the minimum work function. This work function is about 0.2 eV lower on the coated cathode than on the “B” cathode. An accelerated life test at 1575 K indicated a gradual decrease of the Ir concentration in the coating.     

Surface composition and barium evaporation rate of “pedigreed” impregnated tungsten dispenser cathodes during accelerated life testing

A study has been made of the surface composition and barium evaporation rate of “pedigreed” impregnated tungsten dispenser cathodes. The effect of air exposure on coated cathodes was examined and was found to have no significant effect on barium evaporation rate although in some cases longer reactivation times were required. No changes in surface topography were apparent following air exposure and reactivation. Life testing was done at 100°C above the typical operating temperature for the cathode, where the typical operating temperature was taken to be 950°C for coated cathodes and 1050°C for uncoated cathodes. The cathodes were examined at different stages of life testing, up to 1200 h. Significant decreases in barium evaporation rates were found after as few as 500 h of life testing. After 1000 h the evaporation rate had decreased more than an order of magnitude. Changes in surface composition were also found. The effects of tungsten particle size, used in manufacture of the billet, on barium evaporation rate were also studied but no correlation was found.     

Work function variation versus alloy concentration for dispenser cathodes

The dependence of the work function (∅) of dispenser cathodes on the concentration of Ir and Re alloyed with the tungsten emitting surface has been determined for controlled porosity dispenser (CPD) cathodes and matrix type cathodes. ∅ versus concentration curves show a minimum with a distinct cusp near 50/50 concentration for CPD cathodes and near 40% tungsten for matrix cathodes. Our matrix cathode data (using Ir) is consistent (relative to the concentration at which a minimum occurs) with Os/W data derived from other work [6,15]. For all alloys the concentration at which the minimum occurs is independent of which noble metal is involved, but does depend on the nature of the tungsten substrate, and perhaps the deposition technique used to deposit the noble metal film. The data is interpreted in terms of a previously proposed model [7] involving enhanced bonding between Ba-Ir and O-W compared to Ba-W and O-Ir bonds. In addition we suggest a model which explains the cusp as well as other characteristics of the work function concentration curves in terms of a postulated surface phase transition.     

The use of carbonaceous materials as field-emission cathodes

The advantages and disadvantages of carbon fibers and graphite plates with a developed surface as field-emission cathode materials are discussed. Experimental data for the chemical composition of the materials and the effect of thermal annealing on their structure and emission properties are presented. A correlation between the work function and the amount of cesium implant is studied. The feasibility of preparing planar cold cathodes with a developed surface by means of radiation technologies is considered, and the evolution of the emitting surface during bombardment by low-energy residual gas ions is traced. Cold cathode designs for various applications are recommended.     

新型的覆纳米粒子薄膜阴极的研究

采用直流磁控溅射的方法制备出Ir金属纳米粒子薄膜.利用扫描电子显微镜分析了纳米粒子的形态和分布以及不同工艺条件对粒子粒径及形貌的影响,表明纳米粒子的大小可通过调节溅射气体压强来控制.在25%孔度的W海绵基体内浸入6∶1∶2铝酸盐发射物质,然后在其表面沉积上厚度为200—500 nm的纳米粒子薄膜层,最后在H₂气中1200℃烧结,即制成了新型纳米粒子薄膜阴极.利用阴极发射微观均匀性测试仪对纳米粒子薄膜阴极和传统覆膜阴极的热电子发射的均匀性进行了对比研究.采用飞行时间质谱仪测试了真空本底、纳米粒子薄膜阴极、传统覆膜阴极等各种阴极蒸发物的成分,研究了阴极蒸发速率与阴极温度的关系,比较了不同阴极蒸发速率的大小.研究了Ba-W阴极覆上纳米粒子薄膜后的发射特性. 关键词： 纳米粒子薄膜 热阴极 发射均匀性 蒸发     

Influence of the spot field on field emission from composites

Field emission from composite cathodes made of materials with greatly differing work functions (lanthanum hexaboride-pyrographite and hafnium carbide-pyrographite) and also from homogeneous lanthanum hexaboride cathodes, is studied experimentally. The effective emission from the composite cathodes the constituents of which differ greatly in work function and much worse emission properties of the homogeneous cathode are explained by making allowance for the influence of high (≥2 × 10⁷ V/cm) fields of spots arising at the contact of materials with different work functions on the field emission. The emission current density and the flow of electrons emitted under the action of the spot fields toward the anode are estimated by numerical computation.     

Nano-textured W shows improvement of thermionic emission properties

Laser-assisted nano-texturing of W substrates cathodes via ablation in liquid environment is experimentally realized. Two laser sources are used, either a Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser or a Nd:YAG laser with pulse duration of 350 ps. Laser exposure of W results in the formation of hemi-spherical nanostructures situated on top of periodic ripples. Nano-textured thermionic W cathode demonstrates the decrease of the efficient work function by 0.3 eV compared to pristine surface.     

Ion scattering spectroscopy studies of barium and oxygen on tungsten and tungsten-based dispenser cathodes

In order to use Ion Scattering Spectroscopy (ISS) for studies of tungsten dispenser cathodes, the relevant ISS sensitivities must be measured. Calibrations have been made using a polycrystalline tungsten ribbon with controlled coverages of oxygen, barium and combinations thereof. Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) was used to monitor these controlled surfaces and the escape depths of the tungsten Auger electrons in barium and oxygen have been measured. The absolute ISS sensitivities of all three elements were found to be strongly dependent on the barium coverage of the tungsten surface. This effect has been attributed to the lowering of the work function of the tungsten surface caused by the barium adsorption. However, the relative ISS sensitivities of the three elements are not affected in this way when both barium and oxygen (or oxygen alone) are present on the tungsten surface. ISS spectra of such surfaces have been analyzed quantitatively and found to be in reasonable agreement with AES measurements. The analysis has also been applied to ISS spectra of uncoated tungsten matrix dispenser cathodes in an active state and following exposure to oxygen. Compared to AES, these spectra indicate less oxygen on the active cathode surfaces as a result of the oxygen (associated with barium) not contributing to the oxygen ISS signal. Comparisons of the spectra from the active and oxygen poisoned cathodes suggest that oxygen adsorbed during the oxygen exposure sits on the topmost barium layer whereas the oxygen on the active cathode surface does not.     

Surface composition and surface cluster size distribution of Cu-Ni alloys via a monte carlo method

A Monte Carlo simulation of the Cu-Ni alloy surface was performed in order to determine surface composition and surface atom arrangement as a function of bulk composition, surface crystallographic orientation and temperature. The highly surface active nature of copper demonstrated in previous studies was confirmed, and surface nickel atom arrangement was shown to be a sensitive function of first-layer composition and of crystallographic orientation. Configurational energies were computed in a manner which accounted for the variation of atom-atom bond energies with coordination number. The effect of this method of computation on first-layer composition and composition profile was shown to be significant. Based upon the computed composition profile, an estimate of “surface” composition as it would be determined by Auger electron spectroscopy was made and was shown to be in reasonable agreement with published experimental results.     

Fast turn-on characteristics of tungsten-based dispenser cathodes. II

In the Proceedings of the 1982 Tri-Service Cathode Workshop, the authors described studies of the reactivations of tungsten-based dispenser cathodes following poisonings of the kind expected during shelf storage of a microwave tube [Appl. Surface Sci. 16 (1983) 73]. Further work on the problems of reactivation following such poisoning is described here. In addition to coated (“M”) and uncoated tungsten matrix cathodes, the tungsten-iridium mixed metal matrix (“MM”) cathode has been studied. In general reproducible results have been obtained from different examples of the same type of “M” and uncoated cathodes. However, although some “MM” cathodes have exhibited good reactivation characteristics, a large variation has been observed between different examples of “MM” cathodes. The composition of the impregnant in the dispenser cathodes has been found to be an important factor in determining the reactivation rate of a cathode. As the barium oxide concentration in the impregnant increases, the cathode will recover faster from a poisoning exposure. Studies of the poisoning caused by combinations of different gases suggest that poisoning will occur if there is a sufficient exposure of a poisoning agent, regardless of the total exposure. The exposures necessary to poison a cathode are so small, that poisoning of the cathode appears probable during shelf storage of a microwave tube. The reactivation results have been summarised in terms of the times and temperatures required to achieve both a given current density and a given degree of reactivation from a poisoned cathode. The studies also indicate that the limiting step during the reactivation process involves the dispensing of fresh material to the cathode surface rather than the desorption or conversion of a poisoned surface layer.     

掺镧锆锡钛酸铅陶瓷极化强度变化量对电子发射电流强度的影响

铁电阴极因其优异的电子发射性能在高功率微波管的电子束源、平板显示技术以及宇航推进器等领域 有着广阔应用前景而日益受到人们的重视.大量研究表明,铁电阴极电子发射性能受阴极材料性能的影响. 在激励电场作用下,铁电阴极材料会产生表面非屏蔽电荷而引起极化强度的变化, 这表明铁电阴极电子发射性能可能与阴极材料的极化强度变化量存在着某种关系. 为研究阴极材料极化强度变化量对铁电阴极电子发射性能的影响,以掺镧锆锡钛酸铅铁电和反铁电陶瓷样品 作为阴极材料,通过正半周电滞回线测试得到阴极材料在不同电场强度下的极化强度变化量, 测量得到电子发射电流强度随激励电场的变化曲线,并分析了电子发射电流强度与极化强度变化量的关系. 结果表明,两种样品电子发射电流强度与极化强度变化量正相关.     

Vacuum discharge from perovskite oxide electrodes

This paper presents results of the investigation of electrical discharge in vacuum from perovskite-like La_0.7Sr_0.3CoO₃ and YBa₂Cu ₃O_6.95 electrodes. Data are given on the local chemical composition of cathode surfaces subjected to nanosecond high-current arc discharges and on the erosion of ceramic cathode materials. The results of measurements of the work function and of the emission capability of extended ceramic cathodes and of field emission characteristics of clean surfaces of perovskite-like oxides are presented. A comparative analysis has been carried out of the behavior of ceramic cathodes with results obtained from the discharge of metallic electrodes     

Interpretation of AES data of impregnated cathodes

Many surface studies of impregnated cathodes involve a measurement of the Ba₅₉₀, O₅₁₀ and W₁₇₀ Auger peak heights. This paper shows how these measurements plotted in terms of O/Ba versus W/Ba concentration ratios can be used to interpret experimental results on impregnated B-type cathodes. Data are presented from actual cathodes and simulated cathode surfaces using well defined BaO films on W. These results as well topographic data will be compared to various calculated models. It will be shown that an active B-type cathode consists of nearly a monolayer of BaO on W with a slight excess of O compared to Ba. This excess O, however, is associated with W rather than the BaO. Ageing increases the O/Ba ratio and this takes place principally by the removal of Ba from the BaO surface, again with the excess O being associated with the W rather than the BaO. The work function increase during ageing corresponds only to the area-decrease of BaO. If the surface accumulates so much O that it exceeds the available empty Ba sites (i.e., all W is covered by Ba or O), then any additional O appears to sit on top of the remaining Ba and the surface will be poisoned. These conclusions are not only the result of work function observations but are also consistent with interatomic Auger analysis of Ba---O interactions as well as surface plasmon and ISS results. Toporgaphic data obtained from pore/impregnant regions are also in good agreement with calculated values of partial coverage of typical tungstate and impregnant residues.     

Investigation of local work function distribution of field emission cathode from carbon materials doped by Ba with the help of AFM/SEM/X-ray

The joint application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and SEM/X-ray micro-analyzer for investigation of electron work function (EWF) distribution over the surface of field emission cathode (FEC) is described in the paper. This method was used to investigate the graphite cathodes surface after barium doping. The possibility of defining the average value of EWF over the surface of FEC is shown. The results of AFM measurements are compared with results of field emission tests. The reduction of work function down to 3–3.2 eV was found after barium doping.     

Physical foundations of the oxide cathodes

A novel explanation of the low values of work function in case of activated (partly deoxidized) polycrystalline oxides of alkali and alkaline earth metals is offered. Use of the metallic plasma model to the conducting oxides leads to the following values (in eV): 1.00, 1.67, 1.50, 1.44, 1.46 and 1.59 for activated Cs₂O, CaO, SrO, BaO, Y₂O₃ and La₂O₃, respectively. The main reason of low work function of the oxide cathodes is very low density of free electrons in the emitting surface layer.     

GaAs光电阴极在不同强度光照下的稳定性

利用多信息量测试系统分别测试了反射式GaAs光电阴极激活后在0(无光照)，33和100lx白光照射情况下阴极的光电流衰减变化曲线，计算得到其寿命分别为320，160和75min，阴极稳定性随光照强度的增加而降低，测试了只有光照(100lx)而无光电流流过阴极时阴极的寿命为100min. 通过比较发现光照比光电流对阴极稳定性的影响更大. 还测试了阴极在33lx光照下量子效率曲线随时间的衰减，发现阴极低能光子的量子效率下降速度更快，导致量子效率曲线形状不断发生变化. 基于修正后的反射式阴极量子效率公式对这种变化进行了理论分析，发现与光电子的谷间散射和阴极衰减过程中表面势垒形状的变化有关.     

碳纳米管阴极的强流脉冲发射性能研究

采用丝网印刷和涂敷方法制备了两种碳纳米管阴极，并研究了两种阴极的强流脉冲发射特性，表征了阴极表面碳纳米管的形貌及分布.研究结果表明在脉冲宽度为100 ns、电压为1.64×10⁶ V的脉冲电场下，涂敷法制备阴极的场发射电流最高达5.11 kA，最高发射电流密度达260 A/cm².丝网印刷法制备阴极的场发射稳定性优于涂敷法制备阴极，但其发射电流低.阴极表面发射体的形貌与分布影响了阴极的脉冲发射性能.碳纳米管阴极的脉冲发射机理为爆炸电子发射.碳纳米管阴极可以作为强 关键词： 碳纳米管 阴极 脉冲发射 强电流