Strontium vanadate: An ultra-low work function electron emission material

Abstract

Strontium vanadate, SrVO3, is a transition metal perovskite oxide with a low predicted work function of 1.79 eV using Density Functional Theory. Alloying SrVO3 with Ba resulted in Ba segregation to the emitting surface, producing an ultra-low work function of only 1.07 eV. This Ba-enriched emitting surface is predicted to be very long-lived compared to Ba-impregnated W and scandate cathodes.