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Extremely high negative electron affinity of diamond via magnesium adsorption

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Authors
O'Donnell, Kane
Edmonds, M.
Tadich, A.
Thomsen, L.
Stacey, A.
Schenk, A.
Pakes, C.
Ley, L.
Date
2015
Type
Journal Article

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O'Donnell, K. and Edmonds, M. and Tadich, A. and Thomsen, L. and Stacey, A. and Schenk, A. and Pakes, C. et al. 2015. Extremely high negative electron affinity of diamond via magnesium adsorption. Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. 92 (3): Article ID 035303.
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Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
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Department of Physics and Astronomy
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Abstract

We report large negative electron affinity (NEA) on diamond (100) using magnesium adsorption on a previously oxygen-terminated surface. The measured NEA is up to (-2.01±0.05) eV, the largest reported negative electron affinity to date. Despite the expected close relationship between the surface chemistry of Mg and Li species on oxygen-terminated diamond, we observe differences in the adsorption properties between the two. Most importantly, a high-temperature annealing step is not required to activate the Mg-adsorbed surface to a state of negative electron affinity. Diamond surfaces prepared by this procedure continue to possess negative electron affinity after exposure to high temperatures, air, and even immersion in water.