Effective thermionic work function measurements of zirconium carbide using a computer‐processed image of a thermionic projection microscope pattern

We report on a unique experimental method to determine thermionic work functions of major crystal planes of single crystal zirconium carbide. Applications for transition metal carbides could include cathodes for advanced thermionic energy conversion, radiation immune microcircuitry, β‐SiC substrates or high current density field emission cathodes. The primary emphasis of this paper is the analytical method used, that of computer processing a digitized image. ZrC single crystal specimens were prepared by floating zone arc refinement from sintered stock, yielding an average bulk stoichiometry of C/Zr=0.92. A 0.075 cm hemispherical cathode was prepared and mounted in a thermionic projection microscope (TPM) tube. The imaged patterns of thermally emitted electrons taken at various extraction voltages were digitized and computer analyzed to yield currents and corresponding emitting areas for major crystallographic planes. These data were taken at pyrometrically measured temperatures in the range 1700<T<2200 K. Schottky plots were then used to determine effective thermionic work functions as a function of crystallographic direction and temperature. Work function ordering for various crystal planes is reported through the TPM image processing method. Comparisons are made with effective thermionic and absolute (FERP) work function methods. To support the TPM image processing method, clean tungsten surfaces were examined and results are listed with accepted values.