Abstract: A cathode for use in electron tubes which comprises a base metal made of nickel as a principal component and having a surface on which a porous electron emissive layer is formed. The porous electron emissive layer is of a composition comprising 0.1 to 20 wt % (relative to the total weight of the porous electron emissive layer) of scandium oxide having a layered crystalline structure dispersed in an oxide of alkaline earth metal including at least barium. This cathode can be made by preparing a solution in which nitrocellulose is dissolved with the use of an organic solvent, mixing both of barium carbonate and scandium oxide having a layered crystalline structure into the solution to provide an suspension, pulverizing solid components of the suspension for the adjustment of particle size, and depositing the suspension on a surface of the base metal to form the electron emissive layer.

Abstract: An oxide-coated cathode for an electron tube comprises a layer (2) of an electron-emissive substance. This layer (2) contains: an alkaline earth metal oxide as a principal component containing at least Ba; an oxide of Sc; and at least one heat-resisting oxide selected from the group consisting of oxides of Al, Si, Ta, V, Cr, Fe, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta, Mo and W.

Abstract: A hot cathode in a wire form is useful in a vacuum tube, a CRT or a fluorescent display tube is disclosed. The cathode is composed of a heat-resistant metal in a wire form that holds on it an electron-emitting metal material that is made of 0.2-20 wt % of a rear earth metal oxide in admixture with an alkaline earth metal oxide the balance of which contains at least barium oxide. The reduction of oxide barium to barium as a result of reaction with the cathode wire is so much retarded that an increased emission current will be produced from the cathode not only in its initial operation but also through out its operation.

Abstract: This invention is a cathode of an indirect heated type having improved electron emission characteristics.A cathode for an electron tube in accordance with the present invention comprises: a base containing Ni as a major element; and a layer of an electron-emissive substance formed on the base, this layer comprising not only alkaline earth metal oxide as a principal component containing at least Ba, but also rare earth metal oxide of 0.1 to 20 wt. % or rare earth metal of 0.05 to 15 wt. %.