Effect of Grain Boundaries on the Electron Work Function of Ultrafine Grained Aluminum

Abstract

Abstract The electron work function (EWF) of ultrafine grained (UFG) aluminum structured by high pressure torsion (HPT) has been investigated. For the first time, the dependence of the EWF on the specific length of grain boundaries (or the grain size) for UFG Al has been obtained. The change of average grain size was achieved by short term annealing of HPT-processed aluminum at different temperatures from the range 90-400 °C. It has been shown that the state of grain boundaries (GBs) affects the magnitude of the EWF. It has been found that the transformation of GBs due to annealing at 90 °C from a nonequilibrium to more equilibrium state while maintaining the specific length of GBs and their average misorientation is accompanied by a decrease in average GB specific energy by 0.3 J m-2. This transition provides a sharp increase in the EWF of the UFGAl by 0.25 eV.