Charging effect on work function measurements of lithium ceramics under irradiation

Luo, G.-N.*; Yamaguchi, Kenji; Terai, Takayuki*; Yamawaki, Michio*

Lithium ceramics, LiO, LiAlO and LiSiO, under ion or electron beam irradiation have been studied using a Kelvin probe that measures work function changes of materials. Surface charging was observed to influence greatly the probe output, which can be explained qualitatively employing a model concerning polarization effect in insulating ceramics due to free charges on their surfaces. It is found that the insulating ceramics could not be studied properly with the Kelvin probe. A probable solution has been presented, i.e., to heat the ceramics, so as to raise their electric conductivities high enough to root out the surface charges