Patent · US Expired

Liquid metal ion source

US4629931A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
4References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 1984
Grant dateDec 16, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J27/26
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A liquid metal ion source alloy for high vapor pressure metalloids, wherein the alloy composition is chosen to have a low melting point so that the vapor pressure of the volatile constituents is low, even in the liquid state. Specifically, the ion source alloy is an alloy selected from the group of (Pb.sub.0.7-1.0 Au.sub.0.3-0).sub.0.7-0.99 (As+Sb).sub.0.3-0.01 and Pb.sub.0.20-0.30 Au.sub.0.45-0.55 (As+Sb).sub.0.20-0.30. The melting points of these alloys are about 200.degree. C.-300.degree. C., and the alloys may be maintained molten in contact with the emission elements for long periods of time without significant loss of the volatile species or reactivity with typical substrate materials used for emission elements.

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