I wrote: Note also that lanthanum oxide has a work function that makes it a hot > cathode [1]. The possible use of lanthanum hexaboride as the catalyst in > the Hot Cat was noted in an earlier thread. >
To add to this, perhaps the reason it would serve as a catalyst would be that under heating it could potentially ionize a portion of the hydrogen gas in the device. The work function is likely to be in the low eV, and the ionization potential of hydrogen is ~ 13 eV, so there's a mismatch. But I suspect any ejected electrons will follow a Boltzmann distribution rather than a sharp one, so perhaps there will be some energetic electrons present that can ionize the hydrogen. Once hydrogen is ionized, it will accelerate under a potential difference. Eric p.s., there was a 2005 thread taking things in a similar direction: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg05722.html.
