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arXiv · 2602.15426

Photoionization of temperature-controlled nanoparticles in a beam: Accurate and efficient determination of ionization energies and work functions

Atef A. Sheekhoon·Abdelrahman O. Haridy·Sebastian Pedalino·Vitaly V. Kresin
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Abstract

A beam of free alkali metal nanoparticles is produced by a condensation source, passed through a thermalizing tube adjustable over a broad temperature range, and ionized by tunable light. High stability of the particle flux and an automated data acquisition routine allow efficient collection of photoionization yield curves. A careful fit of the data to the universal Fowler function makes it possible to obtain nanoparticle ionization energies, and from those, the metal work functions, with $\sim$0.2% precision. The experimental arrangement, nanoparticle thermalization rates, and ionization threshold analysis are described in detail. The use of ultrapure and temperature-controlled gas-phase nanoparticles facilitates the analysis of electronic properties, such as work functions, and of their interplay with thermal lattice dynamics.

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Atef A. Sheekhoon, Abdelrahman O. Haridy, Sebastian Pedalino, Vitaly V. Kresin. 2026-02-17. Photoionization of temperature-controlled nanoparticles in a beam: Accurate and efficient determination of ionization energies and work functions. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0300914

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