Patent ID: 7772771
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: C22B,C23C,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method of producing a photo-cathode for emitting a photoelectron corresponding to incident light or a secondary-electron emitting surface for emitting secondary electrons corresponding to an incident electron, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a container in which a layer comprised of constituent materials of the photo-cathode or secondary-electron emitting surface to react with an alkali metal is formed; preparing an alkali metal generating device which includes an alkali metal generating agent as a supply source of an alkali metal, the alkali metal generating agent comprising: an oxidizer comprising at least one vanadate with an alkali metal ion as a counter cation; and a reducer for initiating a redox reaction with the oxidizer at a predetermined temperature to reduce the alkali metal ion; setting the alkali metal generating device in a space continuing an inner space of the container; depressurizing the space where the alkali metal generating device is set and the inner space of the container by a predetermined vacuum; heating the alkali metal generating device set in the depressurized space to generate an alkali metal vapor in the depressurized space; guiding the alkali metal vapor generated from the heated alkali metal generating device, while controlling a temperature of the container, to an area where the layer is formed; and wherein, in the alkali metal generating agent, the vanadate is expressed by a chemical formula RVO