Review of $\hbox{LaB}_{6}$, Re-W Dispenser, and $\hbox{BaHfO}_{3}$-W Cathode Development

Abstract

Results of development, emission properties investigations, and applications of cathode materials based on lanthanum hexaboride (LaB <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">6</sub> ), LaB <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">6</sub> -Me <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">IV-VI</sup> B <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> , and also rhenium-tungsten (Re-W) dispenser and pressed-oxide cathodes are presented. Emission properties of a novel class of directionally crystallized lanthanum hexaboride-based eutectics have been studied. The LaB <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">6</sub> -Me <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">IV-VI</sup> B <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> composites exhibit improved emission properties and thermal cycling reliability as compared with the source lanthanum hexaboride. The most promising effective thermionic material is the eutectic composition LaB <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">6</sub> -VB <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> . The techniques for producing pressed cathodes based on barium hafnate with tungsten and dispenser cathodes with a rhenium-tungsten matrix have been developed. It is shown that a cathode of 63% BaHfO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> -37% W (by mass) is enables a thermionic current density of 230 A/cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> at T = 2000 K. Cathodes with a rhenium-tungsten sponge with 3BaOldr0.5CaOmiddotAl <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> O <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> as the emissive active substance have higher emission properties in comparison to cathodes with a tungsten sponge with normal impregnation.