Absolutbestimmung der austrittsarbeit von palladium mit einem röntgenphotoelektronenspektrometer

Based on the work of Ascarelli and Missoni⁴ and Evans¹ a method for absolute measurements of work-functions of electrically conductive samples is developed which is applicable to instruments without retarding field and with a spherical analyzer. The calibration of the instrument, as well as the determination of the onset of the secondary electron spectrum and the Fermi-level, are discussed. For a polycrystalline palladium platelet with an argon-ion cleaned surface, a work-function ofW′_Pd = 4.5(4) ± 0.2(0) eV has been obtained, which agrees with the literature value³ of 4.64 eV within the range of accuracy.