High-temperature contact potential difference measurement of surface work function using in vacuo Kelvin probe

Antonio M. Mántica, Michael J. Detisch, T. John Balk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Characterization of the work function of emitting surfaces represents an important contribution to thermionic emission research today. This is because materials that exhibit lower work functions are capable of thermionically emitting higher current densities at lower operating temperatures, which ultimately means longer lifetimes for the vacuum electron devices that make use of thermionic emitters. One widely used technique to characterize a material's work function is the measurement of contact potential difference using a Kelvin probe system. When applied in the traditional mode, this technique fails to produce meaningful results in situations where a sufficiently hot sample under inspection and the cooler Kelvin probe are in thermal disequilibrium. However, as this paper will outline, the standard application of a Kelvin probe system can be amended to facilitate meaningful asymmetric contact potential difference measurements, and consequently, obtain values of work function for samples at high temperatures, including relevant operating temperatures for thermionic emitters (>1000 °C).

Original languageEnglish
Article number112169
JournalVacuum
Volume215
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023

Keywords

  • Cathode
  • Kelvin probe
  • M-type cathode
  • Thermionic emission
  • Vacuum electron device

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Instrumentation
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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