Surface studies on scandate cathodes and synthesized scandates

Auger, ESCA, electron emission, evaporation, and desorption measurements were made on three different types of scandate surfaces. They are: (a) an impregnated top layer scandate cathode, (b) an unimpregnated top layer scandate cathode with a deposited barium or barium oxide adsorbate surface layer, and (c) a synthesized scandate surface, which replicates a scandate cathode surface. The purpose of these experiments was to determine the role that scandium oxide (Sc₂O₃) plays in making the scandate cathode a more copious electron emitter than the conventional impregnated-type cathode. The synthesized scandate surface experiments consisted of depositing multilayer scandium on a tungsten surface, oxidizing the scandium, and then depositing either Ba or BaO on the scandium oxide surface. The results of these measurements showed that the low work function portions of the thin-film scandate cathode are where the Sc₂O₃ is the substrate and BaO is the adsorbate