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Title: Method for resurrecting negative electron affinity photocathodes after exposure to an oxidizing gas

Abstract

A method by which negative electron affinity photocathodes (201), single crystal, amorphous, or otherwise ordered, can be made to recover their quantum yield following exposure to an oxidizing gas has been discovered. Conventional recovery methods employ the use of cesium as a positive acting agent (104). In the improved recovery method, an electron beam (205), sufficiently energetic to generate a secondary electron cloud (207), is applied to the photocathode in need of recovery. The energetic beam, through the high secondary electron yield of the negative electron affinity surface (203), creates sufficient numbers of low energy electrons which act on the reduced-yield surface so as to negate the effects of absorbed oxidizing atoms thereby recovering the quantum yield to a pre-decay value.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Saxet Surface Science
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1079230
Patent Number(s):
8298029
Application Number:
12/931,839
Assignee:
DOESC
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02W - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
DOE Contract Number:  
SC0002268
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats

Mulhollan, Gregory A, and Bierman, John C. Method for resurrecting negative electron affinity photocathodes after exposure to an oxidizing gas. United States: N. p., 2012. Web.
Mulhollan, Gregory A, & Bierman, John C. Method for resurrecting negative electron affinity photocathodes after exposure to an oxidizing gas. United States.
Mulhollan, Gregory A, and Bierman, John C. Tue . "Method for resurrecting negative electron affinity photocathodes after exposure to an oxidizing gas". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1079230.
@article{osti_1079230,
title = {Method for resurrecting negative electron affinity photocathodes after exposure to an oxidizing gas},
author = {Mulhollan, Gregory A and Bierman, John C},
abstractNote = {A method by which negative electron affinity photocathodes (201), single crystal, amorphous, or otherwise ordered, can be made to recover their quantum yield following exposure to an oxidizing gas has been discovered. Conventional recovery methods employ the use of cesium as a positive acting agent (104). In the improved recovery method, an electron beam (205), sufficiently energetic to generate a secondary electron cloud (207), is applied to the photocathode in need of recovery. The energetic beam, through the high secondary electron yield of the negative electron affinity surface (203), creates sufficient numbers of low energy electrons which act on the reduced-yield surface so as to negate the effects of absorbed oxidizing atoms thereby recovering the quantum yield to a pre-decay value.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2012},
month = {10}
}