Photoelectric quantum yield of nanometer metal particles

Abstract
The absolute photoelectric quantum yield of nanometer metal particles (Ni, Pd, Cu, Ag, Au) is measured from threshold up to photon energies hν of 10 eV. The particles are produced and measured in ultrapure helium at atmospheric pressure. Yield Y and photothreshold φ are compared to bulk data. The shape of Y(hν) is similar for particle and bulk with all investigated materials except Ag. All metals have in common that the particle yield is larger by a factor ≊100 compared to the bulk yield. Apart from electrostatic corrections due to the image and Coulomb potential, the photoelectric threshold is identical for the bulk and the particle.