Direct observation of bi-alkali antimonide photocathodes growth via in operando x-ray diffraction studies

oleh: M. Ruiz-Osés, S. Schubert, K. Attenkofer, I. Ben-Zvi, X. Liang, E. Muller, H. Padmore, T. Rao, T. Vecchione, J. Wong, J. Xie, J. Smedley

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: AIP Publishing LLC 2014-12-01

Deskripsi

Alkali antimonides have a long history as visible-light-sensitive photocathodes. This work focuses on the process of fabrication of the bi-alkali photocathodes, K2CsSb. In-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction and photoresponse measurements were used to monitor phase evolution during sequential photocathode growth mode on Si(100) substrates. The amorphous-to-crystalline transition for the initial antimony layer was observed at a film thickness of 40 Å . The antimony crystalline structure dissolved upon potassium deposition, eventually recrystallizing upon further deposition into K-Sb crystalline modifications. This transition, as well as the conversion of potassium antimonide to K2CsSb upon cesium deposition, is correlated with changes in the quantum efficiency.