Work Functions for Photoelectric Effect

ElementWork Function(eV)
Aluminum
4.08
Beryllium
5.0
Cadmium
4.07
Calcium
2.9
Carbon
4.81
Cesium
2.1
Cobalt
5.0
Copper
4.7
Gold
5.1
Iron
4.5
Lead
4.14
Magnesium
3.68
Mercury
4.5
Nickel
5.01
Niobium
4.3
Potassium
2.3, 2.29**
Platinum
6.35
Selenium
5.11
Silver
4.26-4.73*
Sodium
2.28, 2.36**
Uranium
3.6
Zinc
4.3

Some data from Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.

* The case of silver apppears to be somewhat unique in that the work functions measured for different crystal faces are significantly different. For polycrystalline silver a value of 4.26 eV has been measured, but for a single crystal a value of 4.74 eV has been measured for the (111) face, with intermediate values of 4.64 eV (100) and 4.52 eV (110). Dweydari, A. W.; Mee, C. H. B. (1975). "Work function measurements on (100) and (110) surfaces of silver". Physica Status Solidi (a) 27: 223.

**See also Work Function wiki. According to a Washington State University posting, the values for K (2.29) and Na(2.36) are for polycrystalline samples.

Photoelectric Experiment
Index

Tables

Data Reference
Tipler & Llewellyn
Ch 3
 
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