About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Physical Review B
Paper
Theory of metal surfaces: Work function
Abstract
In a recent paper we presented a contribution to the theory of metal surfaces with emphasis on the shape of the electron-density distribution and the surface energy. The present paper extends this analysis to a consideration of the work function. Some general theoretical relationships are established. Effects of the ions are included using a simple pseudopotential theory, permitting the calculation of the variation of the work function from one crystal face to another. For simple metals (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Al, Pb, Zn, and Mg), agreement with available experimental data is good (5-10%); for the noble metals, the computed work functions are 15-30% too low. © 1971 The American Physical Society.