Infrared photoemitting diode having reduced work function
Abstract
In electro-optical detectors which include as elements a photoemitting photocathode and anode, a photoemitting diode is fabricated which lowers the diode's work function, thus reducing the cooling requirement typically needed for this type of device. The work function is reduced by sandwiching between the photocathode and anode a liquid medium of the formula NR.sub.3 and having an electron affinity for the electrons of the photocathode, which liquid medium permits free electrons leaving the photocathode to remain as stable solvated species in the liquid medium. Thus, highly light-absorbent, and therefore thin, metallic layers can be used for detection, thereby reducing dark current at a given temperature, with a consequent reduction in cooling requirements at constant detector performance.
- Inventors:
-
- Livermore, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865124
- Patent Number(s):
- 4464572
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- infrared; photoemitting; diode; reduced; function; electro-optical; detectors; elements; photocathode; anode; fabricated; lowers; reducing; cooling; requirement; typically; type; device; sandwiching; liquid; medium; formula; nr; electron; affinity; electrons; permits; free; leaving; remain; stable; solvated; species; highly; light-absorbent; metallic; layers; detection; dark; current; temperature; consequent; reduction; requirements; constant; detector; performance; optical detector; emitting diode; free electron; electron affinity; liquid medium; metallic layers; optical detectors; metallic layer; dark current; detector performance; photoemitting diode; /250/
Citation Formats
Hirschfeld, Tomas B. Infrared photoemitting diode having reduced work function. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
Hirschfeld, Tomas B. Infrared photoemitting diode having reduced work function. United States.
Hirschfeld, Tomas B. Sun .
"Infrared photoemitting diode having reduced work function". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865124.
@article{osti_865124,
title = {Infrared photoemitting diode having reduced work function},
author = {Hirschfeld, Tomas B},
abstractNote = {In electro-optical detectors which include as elements a photoemitting photocathode and anode, a photoemitting diode is fabricated which lowers the diode's work function, thus reducing the cooling requirement typically needed for this type of device. The work function is reduced by sandwiching between the photocathode and anode a liquid medium of the formula NR.sub.3 and having an electron affinity for the electrons of the photocathode, which liquid medium permits free electrons leaving the photocathode to remain as stable solvated species in the liquid medium. Thus, highly light-absorbent, and therefore thin, metallic layers can be used for detection, thereby reducing dark current at a given temperature, with a consequent reduction in cooling requirements at constant detector performance.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1984},
month = {1}
}