Original Paper

Thermionic emission characterization of boron-doped microcrystalline diamond films at elevated temperatures

  1. William F. Paxton1,*,
  2. Travis Wade2,
  3. Mick Howell1,
  4. Norman Tolk3,
  5. Wang P. Kang1,
  6. Jim L. Davidson1

Article first published online: 4 JUN 2012

DOI: 10.1002/pssa.201228114

Issue

physica status solidi (a)

physica status solidi (a)

Volume 209, Issue 10, pages 1993–1995, October 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Paxton, W. F., Wade, T., Howell, M., Tolk, N., Kang, W. P. and Davidson, J. L. (2012), Thermionic emission characterization of boron-doped microcrystalline diamond films at elevated temperatures. Phys. Status Solidi A, 209: 1993–1995. doi: 10.1002/pssa.201228114

Author Information

  1. 1

    EECS Department, Vanderbilt University, 5617 Stevenson Center, 37232 Nashville, TN, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Material Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, 37232 Nashville, TN, USA

  3. 3

    Physics Department, Vanderbilt University, 6301 Stevenson Center, 37232 Nashville, TN, USA

*Phone: +001 615 343 7886, Fax: +001 615 343 6614

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 OCT 2012
  2. Article first published online: 4 JUN 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 14 MAY 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 8 MAY 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 22 FEB 2012

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Keywords:

  • diamond thin films;
  • doping;
  • thermionic emission;
  • work function

Abstract

A boron-doped polycrystalline diamond film was deposited on a molybdenum substrate and resistively heated in a high vacuum environment. The thermally excited emission current as a function of cathode temperature was measured. This phenomenon, known as thermionic emission, is characterized by electron emission arising from a surface at elevated temperatures and is described by the Richardson equation. The observed thermionic emission current from the diamond sample followed the Richardson equation from which a work function of 4.43 eV and a Richardson constant of ∼60 A/cm2K2 were observed. This indicates boron-doped polycrystalline diamond behaves as an interesting thermionic emitter for possible energy conversion and other electron emission applications.

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