Abstract
Vacuum thermionic energy converters utilize electron emissive materials as a key component in the transformation of thermal into electrical energy. Electron emission from nitrogen-doped diamond films was characterized with respect to the thermionic emission relation derived by Richardson-Dushman. Key parameters, which describe the emitter material, are the work function φ and the Richardson constant A. A fitting procedure has been employed to determine φ and A for nitrogen-doped diamond. However, a simultaneous solution to the Richardson-Dushman relation was limited due to the strongly coupled parameters φ and A. Additionally, the emission was characterized at various applied fields indicating a change in the electronic structure of the material contrary to classical thermionic emitters.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 217-220 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Diamond and Related Materials |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 2-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Chemistry(all)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Materials Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering