Mitigation of space charge via nanoscale grids

We used photolithography to fabricate nanoscale grids in proximity to a metal electrode. Such nanoscale grids can be used to mitigate the space charges in the inter-electrode region of a thermionic converter. The nanoscale dimensions together with low fill factor of the grid led to low electron absorption, which was measured experimentally. We further demonstrated space charge mitigation using such a grid-anode device under a Ba dispenser cathode.