Nanocrystalline lanthanum boride thin films by femtosecond pulsed laser deposition as efficient emitters in hybrid thermionic-photovoltaic energy converters

[Display omitted] •Thin films based on LaB6 were produced for novel hybrid thermionic converters.•Deposition assisted by fs laser was used for the first time for films’ fabrication.•A detailed physical-chemical study on surface and bulky properties was performed.•Experimental conditions were optimized for enhancing the material’s properties.•Optimal work function and emissivity values were achieved for practical applications. Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6)-based thin films were successfully synthesized via femtosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition (fs-PLD) at room temperature and at high growth rate (>110 nm/min) for acting as electron and photon emitters in hybrid thermionic-photovoltaic devices applied in thermal-to-electrical energy conversion. The physical and chemical properties of the films were systematically investigated as a function of the most relevant deposition parameters (laser pulse repetition rate, pressure of the reactor, and deposition time) aimed at optimizing the material’s microstructure and functional optical and electronic properties. Specific growth conditions allowed for the achievement of thin films consisting of nanocrystalline LaB6 (10–20 nm grain-size) with enhanced spectral emissivity and low work function of (2.64 ± 0.03) eV, evaluated by thermionic emission measurements up to 1860 K, where a thermionic current density of 1.78 A cm−2 was measured. The obtained results demonstrate that fs-PLD represents a novel and rapid method for preparing efficient, and low-cost thermal electron emitters for innovative hybrid thermionic conversion devices operating at temperatures close to 2000 K.