Patent · US Active

Low work-function, mechanically and thermally robust emitter for thermionic energy converters

US9607815B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
9References
9Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateSep 12, 2014
Grant dateMar 28, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 8, 2035

Classification

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

Abstract

Improved thermionic energy converters are provided by electrodes that include a silicon carbide support structure, a tungsten adhesion layer disposed on the silicon carbide support structure, and an activation layer disposed on the tungsten adhesion layer. The activation layer is a material that lowers the electrode work function, such as BaO, SrO and/or CaO.

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