Enhanced-wetting, boron-based liquid-metal ion source and method

Patent · Tue Feb 16 00:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:321289

Bozack, M J; Swanson, L W; Bell, A E; Clark, Jr, W M; Utlaut, M W; Storms, E K

A binary, boron-based alloy as a source for field-emission-type, ion-beam generating devices, wherein boron predominates in the alloy, preferably with a presence of about 60 atomic percent is disclosed. The other constituent in the alloy is selected from the group of elements consisting of nickel, palladium and platinum. Predominance of boron in these alloys, during operation, promotes combining of boron with trace impurities of carbon in the alloys to form B{sub 4}C and thus to promote wetting of an associated carbon support substrate. 1 fig.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: Oregon Graduate Inst. of Science and Technology, Portland, OR (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5,871,848/A/
• Application Number: PAN: 8-944,364; TRN: 99:003323
• OSTI ID: 321289
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 16 Feb 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
FIELD EMISSION
ION BEAMS
ION SOURCES
BORON ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
PALLADIUM ALLOYS
PLATINUM ALLOYS
LIQUID METALS
BINARY ALLOY SYSTEMS
DESIGN