The surface potential of oxygen on vapour deposited gold on glass

Abstract

The Kelvin contact potential difference technique has been applied to observe changes in surface potential caused by the adsorption of oxygen on vapour deposited gold films on glass substrates. These experiments indicate that any change in surfacve potential must be less than 0.02 v at an oxygen pressure of approximately 1 torr. Prior to the introduction of oxygen and after its removal, the contact potential difference between the tungsten reference electrode and the evaporated gold film was 0.16 ± 0.02 v leading to a work function of 4.71 ± 0.02 ev for gold on glass.