Work Function of Vicinal Copper Surfaces

Relative work functions of vicinal surfaces to the (100) plane copper surface were determined from the ∆φ changes during adsorption of potassium. The initial value of the work function of the di erent planes was determined from its saturation value under the condition that it corresponds to the potassium overlayer of the same structure and density. It was found that the work function decreases linearly with step density for this step orientation.