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Three metals (Ag, Au, and Ti) and a carbide (WC) were studied to verify their suitability to act as high-temperature electric contacts for photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathodes based on an AlGaInP/GaInP heterostructure. Transfer length method measurements, performed in the temperature range 25–350°C, showed that the lowest specific contact resistivity values were found for Au (4.0 × 10−4 Ω cm−2 @350°C) and Ti (1.2 × 10−3 Ω cm−2 @350°C). A further selection was made on the basis of film adhesion tests performed after the thermal cycles, in which Ti demonstrated an excellent mechanical robustness.
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