TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF THE PHOTOELECTRON EMISSION FROM INTENTIONALLY OXIDIZED COPPER

The characteristics of the photoelectron emission (PE), measured by va rying the wavelength of incident light, from copper subjected to oxida tion treatment in air have been investigated as a function of the meas urement temperature between 25 and 300 degrees C using a gas-flow coun ter. The intensity of PE at a certain measurement temperature decrease d with increasing oxidation temperature (100 to 800 degrees C) and the intensity of PE for a given oxidation temperature increased with decr easing measurement temperature. The PE behavior was correlated to the chemical and electrical nature of the surfaces analyzed by X-ray photo electron spectroscopy and surface potential measurement. A mechanism i s proposed for the PE of the untreated sample which exhibited a comple tely different PE behavior. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.