Metal oxides and method for forming the method oxides are provided. The disclosed functional metal oxides are single crystalline or polycrystalline metal oxides, such as, for example, SrVO.sub.3, and have dimensions, phase purity, and crystalline quality previously unachievable. The disclosed methods include a combination of a gas atmosphere, vacuum sintering, and laser-based directional solidification of a seed rod in contact with a feed rod that is scalable for production quantities.

Metal oxides and method for forming the method oxides are provided. The disclosed functional metal oxides are single crystalline or polycrystalline metal oxides, such as, for example, SrVO.sub.3, and have dimensions, phase purity, and crystalline quality previously unachievable. The disclosed methods include a combination of a gas atmosphere, vacuum sintering, and laser-based directional solidification of a seed rod in contact with a feed rod that is scalable for production quantities.

The present disclosure provides an electron beam device (500) for inspecting a sample (10) with an electron beam, comprising an electron beam source comprising a cold field emitter (100) for emitting an electron beam, electron beam optics for directing and focusing the electron beam onto the sample (10), and a detector device (540) for detecting secondary charged particles generated by impingement of the electron beam on the sample (10). The cold field emitter (100) includes an emitter tip (110), a base arrangement (120) configured for supporting the emitter tip (110) and comprising a first base element (122) and a second base element (124), and a filament (130) having at least a first filament portion (132) and a second filament portion (134) attaching the emitter tip (110) to the base arrangement (120), wherein the first filament portion (132) extends between the emitter tip (110) and the first base element (122) and the second filament portion (134) extends between the emitter tip (110) and the second base element (124), wherein a length (L) of each of the first filament portion (132) and the second filament portion (134) is 4 mm or less, and wherein a diameter of a cross-section of each of the first filament portion (132) and the second filament portion (134) is 0.13 mm or less.

A thermionic emission device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a single carbon nanotube, an insulating layer and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is located on a first surface of the insulating layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are located on a second surface of the insulating layer and spaced apart from each other. The carbon nanotube comprises a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a middle portion located between the first end and the second end. The first end of the carbon nanotube is electrically connected to the first electrode, and the second end of the carbon nanotube is electrically connected to the second electrode.

A thermionic emission device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a single carbon nanotube, an insulating layer and a gate electrode. The gate electrode is located on a first surface of the insulating layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are located on a second surface of the insulating layer and spaced apart from each other. The carbon nanotube comprises a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a middle portion located between the first end and the second end. The first end of the carbon nanotube is electrically connected to the first electrode, and the second end of the carbon nanotube is electrically connected to the second electrode.

A thermionic dispenser cathode having a refractory metal matrix with scandium and barium compounds in contact with the metal matrix and methods for forming the same. The invention utilizes atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanoscale, uniform, conformal distribution of a scandium compound on tungsten surfaces and further utilizes in situ high pressure consolidation/impregnation to enhance impregnation of a BaO—CaO—Al.sub.2O.sub.3 based emissive mixture into the scandate-coated tungsten matrix or to sinter a tungsten/scandate/barium composite structure. The result is a tungsten-scandate thermionic cathode having improved emission.

A thermionic dispenser cathode having a refractory metal matrix with scandium and barium compounds in contact with the metal matrix and methods for forming the same. The invention utilizes atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanoscale, uniform, conformal distribution of a scandium compound on tungsten surfaces and further utilizes in situ high pressure consolidation/impregnation to enhance impregnation of a BaO—CaO—Al.sub.2O.sub.3 based emissive mixture into the scandate-coated tungsten matrix or to sinter a tungsten/scandate/barium composite structure. The result is a tungsten-scandate thermionic cathode having improved emission.

It is an object to provide a tungsten alloy exhibiting characteristics equal to or higher in characteristics than those of a thorium-containing tungsten alloy, without using thorium which is a radioactive material, and a discharge lamp, a transmitting tube, and a magnetron using the tungsten alloy. According to the present invention, a tungsten alloy includes 0.1 to 5 wt % of Zr in terms of ZrC.

It is an object to provide a tungsten alloy exhibiting characteristics equal to or higher in characteristics than those of a thorium-containing tungsten alloy, without using thorium which is a radioactive material, and a discharge lamp, a transmitting tube, and a magnetron using the tungsten alloy. According to the present invention, a tungsten alloy includes 0.1 to 5 wt % of Zr in terms of ZrC.

Embodiments of the present invention describe electrical potential energy to electrical kinetic energy converters, ozone generators, and light emitters. A system for energy conversion from electrical potential energy to electrical kinetic energy may include a discharge device and a power supply. The power supply can be coupled with the discharge device, and supplies energy to the discharge device to form an initial electric field. The discharge device may further include at least two electrodes that are either mesh electrodes or wire-array electrodes. Furthermore, a space between the at least two electrodes is filled with a gas medium and an electric field is created by the power supply in a normal direction relative to planes formed by the elements of electrodes.