The early phase discharge voltage characteristics of the La 0.5Sr0.5CoO3 as a cathode

The La0.5Sr0. 5CoO3 was used as a cathode for the first time when the plasma display panel was used on the handheld personal computer. It has favorable sputtering resistance characteristic and stable discharge characteristic in gases. A cathode made from the La 0.5Sr0.5CoO3 has unique electrical characteristic in early phase discharge voltage characteristics. The discharge voltage continues to decrease from the starting value. In this report, the discharge voltage shift of the La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 was investigated through an analysis of the DC plasma panel which was made as prototype. It is presumed that the discharge voltage shift is caused by the current density shift of the cathode surface, and that the current density shift is caused by the surface profile of the cathode particles. In order to find out this mechanism, the spherical form model was applied to the discharge voltage shift, and the calculated values and the measured values were compared. The calculated values correspond approximately to measured values. This spherical form model is considered of available for the discharge voltage shift. © 2008 The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.