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Balestra, C. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Balestra, C. L..

5 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

High efficiency thermionic converter studies

Research in thermionic energy conversion technology is reported. The objectives were to produce converters suitable for use in out of core space reactors, radioisotope generators, and solar satellites. The development of emitter electrodes that operate at low cesium pressure, stable low work function collector electrodes, and more efficient means of space charge neutralization were investigated to improve thermionic converter performance. Potential improvements in collector properties were noted with evaporated thin film barium oxide coatings. Experiments with cesium carbonate suggest this substance may provide optimum combinations of cesium and oxygen for thermionic conversion.

Huffman, F. N.↗
NASA NTRS1976

High efficiency thermionic converter studies

The objective is to improve thermionic converter performance by means of reduced interelectrode losses, greater emitter capabilities, and lower collector work functions until the converter performance level is suitable for out-of-core space reactors and radioisotope generators. Electrode screening experiments have identified several promising collector materials. Back emission work function measurements of a ZnO collector in a thermionic diode have given values less than 1.3 eV. Diode tests were conducted over the range of temperatures of interest for space power applications. Enhanced mode converter experiments have included triodes operated in both the surface ionization and plasmatron modes. Pulsed triodes were studied as a function of pulse length, pulse potential, inert gas fill pressure, cesium pressure, spacing, emitter temperature and collector temperature. Current amplifications (i.e., mean output current/mean grid current) of several hundred were observed up to output current densities of one amp/sq cm. These data correspond to an equivalent arc drop less than 0.1 eV.

Huffman, F. N.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Electronic characteristics of 'real' CdS surfaces.

Photovoltage spectroscopy (including photovoltage inversion and photovoltage quenching) was used to determine the electronic characteristics of real (basal and prismatic) surfaces of CdS. In room atmosphere, surface states with the following positions were found in the cadmium surfaces: Ec - Et equal to 0.05, 0.4, and 0.8 eV, and Ev - Et equal to 0.83 eV. The same surface states were present in the sulfur surfaces, with the exception of those at Ec - Et equal to 0.4 eV. In the prismatic and unetched basal surfaces, states at Ec - Et equal to 1.1 eV were found in addition to all of those found on the cadmium surfaces.

Lagowski, J.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Photovoltage inversion effect and its application to semiconductor surface studies: CdS.

Experimental results on the surface states of the basal plane of CdS are presented and discussed in the light of a model of the photovoltage inversion effect. It is found that the surface states associated with this effect are in poor communication with the bulk and under normal conditions may require long periods of time to reach equilibrium. A combination of photovoltage inversion, photovoltage quenching, and photovoltage spectroscopy is believed to constitute a very effective tool for the study of surfaces of wide energy gap semiconductors.

Lagowski, J.↗