New surface coating technology increases materials’ electron emission seven-fold

(Nanowerk News) An international research group has developed a new surface coating technology that is capable of significantly increasing electron emission in materials (Applied Physics Letters, “Work function lowering of LaB6 by monolayer hexagonal boron nitride coating for improved photo- and thermionic-cathodes”). Their breakthrough is expected to improve the production of high-efficiency electron sources, and lead to increased performances in electron microscopes, electron beam lithography systems, and synchrotron radiation facilities. Free electrons are those…