Thermodynamics of Surface Films

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Abstract
A relation between the surface coverage and the surface potential of an adsorbed film is developed from a thermodynamic argument. It is found that the proper variables to be used in the theory of films are the temperature of the surface and the saturation temperature corresponding to the pressure of the vapor in equilibrium with the surface. The analysis is applied to the experimental data of Taylor and Langmuir for cesium on tungsten with good results. In the Appendix an estimate of the range over which the surface forces extend is obtained by means of a simple microscopic model.