Abstract
C12A7 electride, a new microporous compound having a work function of 2.4eV, was examined as a candidate for the cathode material in a cold cathode fluorescent lamp. The cathode fall voltage, which is closely related to the energy consumption, observed for the trial glow-discharge lamp comprising C12A7 electride as a cathode material decreased by approximately 35% than that observed for the reference lamp with a Mo cathode. The present observation indicates that the energy consumption or the luminous efficiency of cold cathode fluorescent lamps could be improved by using C12A7 electride as a cathode material.
