Metal oxides, secondary electron emission

Mesons, summary of properties, 11-1 to 55 Metal oxides, secondary electron emission, 12-120... 

The plasma ionic liquid interface is interesting from both the fundamental and the practical point of view. From the more fundamental point of view, this interface allows direct reactions between free electrons from the gas phase without side reactions - once inert gases are used for the plasma generation. From the practical point of view, ionic liquids are vacuum-stable electrolytes that can favorably be used as solvents for compounds to be reduced or oxidised by plasmas. Plasma cathodic reduction may be used as a novel method for the generation of metal or semiconductor particles, if degradation reactions of the ionic liquid can be suppressed sufficiently. Plasma anodic oxidation with ionic liquids has yet to be explored. In this case the ionic liquid is cathodically polarized causing an enhanced plasma ion bombardment, that leads to secondary electron emission and fast decomposition of the ionic liquid. 

Energetic ion bombardment of a surface causes the emission of secondary electrons. Metals generally have a secondary electron emission coefficient of less than 0.1 under ion bombardment while the secondary electron emission coefficients of oxide surfaces are higher. Secondary electron emission from electron bombardment is much higher than from ion bombardment. 

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