Work Function of Gold

Abstract

The work functions of sixteen gold surfaces have been determined by measurement of their contact differences of potential with respect to barium reference surfaces of known work function. The gold surfaces were prepared by subjecting spectroscopic standard gold to repetitive fusion-solidification outgassing followed by fractional distillation and condensation on tantalum; the barium surfaces by a similar technique which yields surfaces reproducible and constant to 0.01 ev. Measurement was by the Kelvin method with a time interval of 15 seconds between deposition and measurement of a fresh surface.The contact difference of potential Au-Ba is found to be 2.31\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 volts and the work function of gold 4.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 ev, referred to a barium work function of 2.52 ev.