Interaction of oxygen with clean aluminum surfaces by measurement of work function changes

Abstract

Work function changes were used to study the interaction of clean bulk aluminum surfaces with oxygen in the low pressure region (10-6 to 10-8torr). The effect of temperature and pressure on these work function changes indicated that the amount of oxygen adsorbed on the outer surface of the aluminum at these pressures was very small. Low outer surface adsorption was due to the high rate of incorporation of oxygen into the aluminum subsurface. The chemisorbed oxygen led either to a structure of high work function or to a structure of low work function relative to the work function of the clean aluminum depending on experimental conditions. Comparison of results of this work with results of previous studies of adsorption of water on aluminum showed that the lowered work function was definitely a result of oxygen interaction instead of water contamination as proposed by other investigators. © 1972.