Work function: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:22, 9 November 2022

Revision as of 17:42, 23 November 2022

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{{short description|Type of energy}}

In [[solid-state physics]], the '''work function''' (sometimes spelledspelt '''workfunction''') is the minimum [[thermodynamic work]] (i.e., energy) needed to remove an [[electron]] from a solid to a point in the [[vacuum]] immediately outside the solid surface. Here "immediately" means that the final electron position is far from the surface on the atomic scale, but still too close to the solid to be influenced by ambient electric fields in the vacuum.

The work function is not a characteristic of a bulk material, but rather a property of the surface of the material (depending on crystal face and contamination).