Single-Crystalline GdB_6 Nanowire Field Emitters

摘要

Rare-earth hexaborides are the best thermionic electron sources due to their low work function,low volatility at high temperature,high conductivity,high chemical resistance,and high mechanical strength.Single-crystalline LaB_6 and CeB_6(with work functions of about 2.5 eV)have shown this advantage in thermionic electron emission applications during the past 50 years.In the rare-earth hexaboride family,GdB_6 is believed to have the lowest work function(approx1.5 eV).