Electron Emission And Its Types

What is Electron Emission?

Metals have free electrons that can move from one atom to the other within the metal. In fact, this factor is responsible for their excellent electrical conductivity. But if they try to escape the metal surface, they are unable to do so. This is because when these negatively charged particles (electrons) try to leave the metal, the surface of the metal acquires a positive charge. Due to the attraction between the negative and the positive charges, the electrons are pulled back into the metal. And there are no forces to pull them forward. The electrons are thus forced to stay inside the metal due to the attractive forces. This barrier provided by the metal surface to prevent escaping of free electrons is called the surface barrier.

However, the surface barrier can be broken by providing a certain minimum amount of energy to the free electrons which increases their kinetic energy and consequently help them escape the metal surface. This minimum amount of energy is known as the work function of the metal. And when the work function is provided to the metal, the consequent liberation of electrons from the metal surface is known as electron emission.

The work function of a metal depends on:

  • The properties of the metal
  • The purity of the metal
  • The nature of the metal surface

Types of Electron Emission

The electron emission is possible only if sufficient energy (equal to the work function of the metal) is supplied to the metal in the form of heat energy, light energy, etc. Depending on the source of energy, electron emission can be of the following types:

  • Thermionic Emission: In this type, the metal is heated to a sufficient temperature to enable the free electrons to come out of its surface.
  • Field Emission: In this type, a very strong electric field is applied to the metal which pulls the electrons out of the surface due to the attraction of the positive field.
  • Photoelectric Emission: In this type, the light of a certain frequency is made to fall on the metal surface which leads to the emission of electrons.
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