Negative-hydrogen-ion production from a nanoporous 12CaO ∙ 7Al₂O₃ electride surface

Abstract

A high production rate of negative hydrogen ion was observed from a\nnanoporous C12A7 electride surface immersed in hydrogen/deuterium low-pressure\nplasmas. The target was biased at 10-170 V negatively and the target surface\nwas bombarded by H3 + ions from the plasma. The production rate was 1-2 orders\nhigher than a clean molybdenum surface. The measured H-energy spectrum\nindicates that the major production mechanism is desorption by sputtering. This\nmaterial has potential to be used as production surface of cesium-free negative\nion sources for accelerators, heating beams in nuclear fusion, and surface\nmodification for industrial applications.\n