Characteristics of Thermionic Emission from Emissive Oxides

Abstract

Characteristics of thermionic emission from emissive oxides were investigated by using experimental data of work function measurement of commercial fluorescent lamp electrodes presented in our previous paper. Our aims are as follows: first, to reconfirm the difference in the expression of equations describing thermionic emission current density between oxides (Wilson and Nijiboer models) and metals (the Richardson-Dushman equation). Second, we wish to further clarify the relationship between the temperature dependence of work function and the effective value of the Richardson constant.