Relationship between Thermionic Emission and Electrical Conductivity of Oxide-Coated Cathodes

The relationship between the thermionic emission and the electrical conductivity of both “sintered” and normal oxide-coated cathodes has been investigated. The “χ” values which obtained from the difference between the work functions and the activation energies of conductivity were much inconsistent between both cathodes. Moreover, in the low temperature range the activation energey of conductivity, smaller than 0.1 ev, was observed. These results are attributed to the existence of numerous conduction mechanisms in oxide-coating and to the surface formation of barium layer on the oxide-coating particles.