Application of microfabrication technology to thermionic energy conversion. Final report, 1 April 1979-31 March 1981

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5742659· OSTI ID:5742659

Brodie, I; Shepherd, C; Spindt, C A

The first-year effort emphasized study of the kind of microstructures that could improve the performance of thermionic converters. Two ideas considered to have a fair chance of success emerged from this study: (1) use of a very closely spaced diode to eliminate the space-charge limitation of electron flow from emitter to collector, cesium vapor being used to control the work function of the emitter; and (2) use of field emission electrons, injected into a relatively large diode gap from microcathodes built into the collector, to produce ions to neutralize the space charge. The gas in the diode gap would be a mixture of cesium (to control the emitter work function) and xenon to optimize the ionization. A number of schemes were attempted to build closely spaced diodes with spacing in the 1 to 5 ..mu..m range, which overcame the problems of lateral differential expansion, surface irregularities on the electrodes, and heat loss down the pillars holding the gap spacing. Theoretical studies on using field emitter electrons to produce the space charge neutralizing ions showed that this approach was feasible. However, the program was terminated before any experimental work could be initiated in this area.

• Research Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-79ET15423
• OSTI ID: 5742659
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/15423-7; ON: DE82002762
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
THERMIONIC CONVERTERS
MICROELECTRONICS
DESIGN
ELECTRON TRANSFER
FABRICATION
FIELD EMISSION
IONS
PERFORMANCE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SPACE CHARGE
THERMIONIC COLLECTORS
THERMIONIC EMITTERS
WORK FUNCTIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EMISSION
FUNCTIONS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
300401* - Thermionic Converters- Design & Development