The work function reduction of the Pt field emitter

We have carried out the field emission experiments to measure the temperature dependence of the work function of Pt field emitter and found that the work function steeply decreases more than 2 eV by annealing at relatively low temperature above about 500 K in ultra high vacuum. The maximum reduction of the work function was 2.59 eV. The reduced work function was restored the original value of Pt clean surface by applying high voltage of only 20% of Pt evaporation field. The experimental results are tentatively interpreted in terms of the formation of complex cyanides on the emitter shank during the electrochemical etching in KCN solution and the surface diffusion of potassium atoms formed by the thermal decomposition of the complex cyanides to the emitter cap.