Episode 17 of Covalent Academy will explore common misunderstandings about the work function of materials. We’re dialing in to the mainstream and modern techniques used to measure work function and sharing tactics to ensure you’re accessing the right information with these methods.

The work function of a material reflects the amount of energy required to free an electron from the valence band (or Fermi Level) in the material’s solid state to the vacuum level. Although sometimes used as a material property, all work function measurements measure the properties of the surface, not the bulk.

Work function measurements are difficult because they are highly sensitive to the atomic-scale details of a surface. While there are many ways to measure work function, this often leads users to improperly analyze the work function of the surface instead of the bulk of a solid, failing to generate accurate information about the electronic response of the underlying sample.

The webinar will discuss both the theory and the practice of measuring work function using a variety of techniques and how to avoid common misconceptions that can skew accurate analysis.

This Webinar Will Cover:

1. Why is work function important and why do we measure it?
2. Theory vs. reality of how we measure work function
3. Common and novel measurement techniques (including, but not limited to: Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy, and Photoelectron Spectroscopy in Atmosphere)
4. Pros and Cons of Different Measurement Techniques

This episode will be co-hosted by two of our distinguished metrology experts: Chris Moore, Vice President of Technology; and Roland Barbosa, Director of Surface Analysis. Both esteemed presenters will be available to answer questions during a live Q&A session at the end of the hour.