Toshinari Watanabe

Secondary electron emission and glow discharge properties of 12CaO·7Al2O3 electride for fluorescent lamp applications

Abstract 12CaO·7Al2O3 electride, a sub-nanoporous compound having a work function of 2.4 eV, was examined as a candidate cathode material in fluorescent lamps. The electron emission yield was higher and the discharge voltage was lower for 12CaO·7Al2O3 than for existing cathode materials such as Ni, Mo or W; therefore, the energy consumption of the fluorescent lamps can be improved using 12CaO·7Al2O3 cathodes. Prototype glow-discharge lamps using 12CaO·7Al2O3 were constructed and exhibited reasonable durability.

52.3: A Use of Electrically Conductive Oxide Ceramic (12CaO·7Al2O3 Electride) Electrode having Low Work Function and Low Sputtering Yield for Fluorescent Lamps

A significantly low cathode fall voltage of 140 V and a high sputtering resistance at the driving current as large as 20 mA were observed for the cold cathode fluorescent lamps that comprise the ceramic cathode electrodes made of 12CaO·7Al2O3 electride. The electride is a subnanoporous compound having a work function of 2.4 eV and electrical conductivity of 1670 S/m. The electrode was also found to be applicable to hot cathodes for glow and arc discharges.