A solid state electrochemical cell, Na0.75CoO2/sodium beta-alumina/met
al grid, is presented which is capable of producing a beam of sodium v
apour in UHV. Cells such as these have potential applications as a sou
rce of dopants in semiconductor fabrication. Electrochemical measureme
nts and a new spectroelectrochemical technique provide mechanistic inf
ormation regarding sodium electro-generation.