Estimation of Contact Potential Differences in Thermionic Energy Converters

摘要

The contact potential difference in a low-pressure thermionic energy converter can be written as CPD=[open phi]~E-[open phi]~C, where [open phi]~E and [open phi]~C are averaged work functions of the emitter and collector, respectively. The estimation of [open phi]~E and [open phi]~C from existing work-function data is discussed. As an example, [open phi]~E values are estimated for well-aged polycrystalline tungsten wire and those estimates are compared with experimental values.