Collector for thermionic energy converter covered with carbon like material and having a low electronic work function

摘要

Collector for thermionic energy converter of a new type with low electronic work function. A thermionic energy converter includes an emitter and a collector and a space provided therebetween to which is supplied vapor of a thermionic material, for example cesium or other alkali metal. The emitter is heated from an external heat source so that it emits electrons to the collector. The collector is at least partly covered by a thin layer of a material, for example carbon, which is capable of interacting with the thermionic material and form excited states of this and maintain a layer of excited thermionic material on the surface of the collector. The new collector for thermionic converters exhibits a very low work function, which implies diminished losses is the energy conversion.