Patent · US Active

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

US12046439B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

6References

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
Zhixun Shen · Stanford, US
Nicholas A. Melosh · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

Filing date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Nov 30, 2041

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.