Influence of carbonaceous species entered during arc plasma synthesis on the stoichiometry of LaB6

Electron emission properties of lanthanum hexaboride are dependent on the crystal structure as well as stoichiometric ratio of boron and lanthanum. Present research deals with the influence of carbon diffusion on the stoichiometric LaB6 synthesized using arc plasma gas phase condensation process. Nanocrystalline LaB6 has been synthesized using arc plasma at different plasma powers viz 2-3.4 kW. Further, an inclusion of carbonaceous species from the graphite anode with increasing plasma power and its correlation with stoichiometry has been elucidated. X-ray photo-electron spectroscopic technique has been used for the identification of surface chemistry of the synthesized powders and more effectively to infer the stoichiometry i. e. ratio of B:La in the samples synthesized with increasing plasma in put power. The influence of plasma parameters on the work function of the synthesized nanoparticles has also been elucidated using Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS).

Automated summary

The electron emission properties of lanthanum hexaboride depend on the crystal structure and stoichiometric ratio of boron and lanthanum. This study investigates the influence of carbon diffusion on the stoichiometric LaB6 using arc plasma gas phase condensation process. Nanocrystalline LaB6 was synthesized with different plasma powers, and the inclusion of carbonaceous species from the graphite anode and its correlation with stoichiometry were elucidated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to identify the surface chemistry and infer the stoichiometry of the samples. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate the influence of plasma parameters on the work function of the synthesized nanoparticles.