Applied Surface Science, Vol.169, 658-661, 2001
Work function of binary alloys
By utilizing the field emission method, we have studied the composition dependence of work function in NiCu and PtRh alloys. In PtRh alloys, we find that the work function falls below the linear interpolation, in agreement with the experimental results on AgAu alloys [Fain and McDavid, Phys. Rev, B 9 (1974) 5099]. On the other hand, the work function of NiCu alloys is found to show little systematic deviation from the linear interpolation. The observed negative deviation in PtRh alloys is not compatible with a simple theoretical prediction based on the electronic density of states.