Abstract
The activation of oxide cathodes by chemical impurities present in the base nickel is analyzed using classical diffusion theory and a model in which the concentration of donors in the oxide particles is controlled by alkaline earth metal adsorbed on the oxide particles. Strong surface adsorption of the alkaline earth metals on the oxide crystal surfaces is indicated. To fit calculated curves of average donor concentration to experimentally observed pulse emission data obtained on Ni with Al as an impurity, surface adsorption energies of 3.2 to 3.4 ev are indicated.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: