Patent · US Active

Method for tuning work function using surface photovoltage and producing ultra-low-work-function surfaces, and devices operational therewith

US11205554B1 · kind B1 · utility

9Cited by

1References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

Daniel Riley · San Francisco, US
Kunal Sahasrabuddhe · Stanford, US
Igor Bargatin · Wynnebrook Manor, US
Jared William Schwede · Berkeley, US
Zhi-Xun Shen · Stanford, US
Nicholas A. Melosh · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Apr 25, 2037

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH01J45/00
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The embodiments provide a thermionic emission device and a method for tuning a work function in a thermionic emission device is provided. The method includes illuminating an N type semiconductor material of a first member of a thermionic emission device, wherein a work function of the N type semiconductor material is lowered by the illuminating. The method includes collecting, on one of the first member or a second member of the thermionic emission device, electrons emitted from one of the first member or the second member.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.