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Christofer Br
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Since positive charge on the photocatode increases work function of electrons, does charging metal photocatode negatively decrease work function? If not, why?
It doesn't, at least not notably. It just makes the electrons fly back after they were released.Christofer Br said:Since positive charge on the photocatode increases work function of electrons
In principle: Yes. In practice you won't see an effect for flat surfaces and realistic voltages. For very sharp outer corners you can see an effect.Christofer Br said:does charging metal photocatode negatively decrease work function?
The work function of a metal is the minimum amount of energy required to remove an electron from the surface of the metal and send it out into the surrounding space.
Charging metal negatively means that the metal has gained extra electrons, which can lower the work function because there are now more electrons available to be removed from the surface.
No, charging metal negatively cannot decrease the work function to zero. There will always be a minimum amount of energy required to remove an electron from the metal's surface, regardless of the number of extra electrons.
Decreasing the work function of a metal can have various effects on its properties. It may increase the metal's electrical conductivity, affect its reactivity with other substances, or change its surface work function, which can impact its performance in electronic devices.
Yes, there is a limit to how much charging metal negatively can decrease the work function. This limit is determined by the specific properties and structure of the metal, and it cannot go below the minimum energy required to remove an electron from its surface.