X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and low-energy electron diffraction analyses on zirconium oxide modified (100) surface of molybdenum

It has been found that the work function of Mo(100) surface can be reduced to 2.1eV by heating it with a slight layer of zirconium oxide in a vacuum condition [S. Satoh et al., J. Vac. Soc. Jpn. 47, 143 (2004)]. Here the low work function surface, which is abbreviated as ZrO∕Mo(100), was examined aiming to understand the reducing mechanism of the work function. Low-energy electron diffraction is employed to analyze the atomic arrangement at the surface and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to identify the surface chemical condition. The experiment gives almost the same results as for the ZrO∕W(100) low work function surface.