Abstract
A value for the work function of a five fold surface of the icosahedral quasicrystal, Al-Pd-Mn and comparison of a value for other intermetallics, NiAl has been reported. The work function of a surface is one of its most basic and influential features which controls thermionic and field emission. It plays a role in quantization of electron states parallel to the surface in metal-supported metallic nanoislands. The value was measured at room temperature with the retarding field method, using a low-energy electron microscope (LEEM) in mirror electron mode (MEM). The quasicrystal sample was prepared in a UHV chamber by sputtering and annealing to a final temperature of 924 K. The work function measurements can be useful for predicting or understanding other surface properties of quasicrystalline materials.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1249-1250 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, Part A: Vacuum, Surfaces and Films |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Funding
This work was supported by three main sources: the Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Science Division of the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) under Contract Nos. DE-AC02-07CH11358 through the Ames laboratory (B. Ü., C.J.J, and P.A.T), DE-AC04-94AL8500 through the Sandia National laboratories (K.F.M. and N.C.B.), and DE-AC02-05CH11231 through the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (Y.S., T.D., and A.K.S.)