Investigation of local work function distribution of field emission cathode from carbon materials doped by Ba with the help of AFM/SEM/X-ray Original Research Article

The joint application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and SEM/X-ray micro-analyzer for investigation of electron work function (EWF) distribution over the surface of field emission cathode (FEC) is described in the paper. This method was used to investigate the graphite cathodes surface after barium doping. The possibility of defining the average value of EWF over the surface of FEC is shown. The results of AFM measurements are compared with results of field emission tests. The reduction of work function down to 3–3.2 eV was found after barium doping.