Mechanism of enhancement in breakdown voltage between contacts by high-temperature oxygen treatment for rhodium plated contact reed switches

We showed that the breakdown voltage between contacts increased by applying a high-temperature oxygen treatment on rhodium-contact reed switches, which was originally developed to suppress their catalysis and absorption. Using ultraviolet electron spectroscopy, we determined the above phenomena as being caused by enhancement of the work function. To examine the result in detail, we analyzed the contact surface of carriers after discharge. Anions of oxygen and cations of nitrogen were activated and oxygen ions increased by the high-temperature oxygen treatment. As a result of the investigations, the enhancement of the work function is thought to be more important to obtain high breakdown voltage between contacts than increased cations of oxygen.