TECHNOLOGY BRIEF

METHOD OF SURFACE PREPARATION OF NIOBIUM

For further information, contact Lori-Anne Neiger

Description: The niobium preparation method includes polishing, cleaning, baking and irradiating the niobium surface whereby the resulting niobium surface has a high quantum efficiency. The method was originally developed for use of niobium in a photocathode for high-performance accelerator systems. A higher level of quantum efficiency makes the construction of superconducting radio frequency injectors with niobium as the photocathode feasible.

Commercial and Technical Merit: The surface preparation method prepares niobium such that it is a high quantum efficiency material in order to be used as an efficient superconducting electron source. RF injectors can become "mini-light sources" whereby multiple experiments that required a synchrotron could be done with an RF injector that incorporates a photocathode made of niobium. Additionally, photocathodes are used in photomultiplier tubes, optical detectors, and camera tubes.

Competitive Advantage: Currently, the quantum efficiency of semiconductor photocathodes is about 0.1%, which is lower than that of typical photodetectors. This surface preparation method increases the photoelectron yield by three orders of magnitude

Inventors: Triveni Srinivasan-Rao, John F. Schill

Patent Status: U.S. Patent 6,524,170

Licensing Status: Available exclusively or non-exclusively