Microstructure and emission properties of nanometer Ce-W material

Nanometer Ce-W composite materials have been prepared by the method of freeze-drying. Microstructure and surface properties of materials were investigated by SEM and “in situ” AES and emission characteristics have been determined. It is found that the nanometer materials have relatively small crystal particles with average dimensions in the order of 50 nm. Due to the results of matrix analysis, the cerium in the materials is uniformly distributed on submicron scale, which proves that the diffusion ability of cerium has been increased. Under high temperature, the active layer on the surface thickens simultaneously with the increase of cerium and oxygen. As a result, nanometer Ce-W materials exhibit excellent emission characteristics compared with those of micron-sized Ce-W materials.