2015/05/24 by Kane M. O'Donnell, Kane M. O’Donnell, Mark T. Edmonds +17
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research #Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques #Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides #FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #cond-mat.mtrl-sci
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1505.06410
7 pages, 5 figures
openalex publication_date 2015/05/24 · arxiv created 2015/06/20 · arxiv updated 2015/06/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
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.