Effect of Mg or Ag addition on the evaporation field of Al

It is known that the distribution of the charge-states as well as the evaporation field shift to higher values as the specimen temperature is decreased at a constant rate of evaporation. This study has explored the effect of Mg or Ag addition on the evaporation field of Al in terms of the charge state distribution of the field evaporated Al ions. The fractional abundance of Al2+ ions with respect to the total Al ions in Al–Mg alloy is lower than that in pure Al, whereas it shows higher level in the Al–Ag alloy at lower temperatures. The temperature dependence of the fractional abundance of Al2+ ions has been also confirmed, suggesting that Al atoms in the Al–Mg alloy need lower evaporation field, while higher field is necessary to evaporate Al atoms in the Al–Ag alloy, compared with pure Al. This tendency is in agreement with that of the evaporation fields estimated theoretically by means of measurements of the work function and calculations of the binding energy of the pure Al, Al–Mg and Al–Ag alloys.

► The charge state distribution of the field evaporated Al ions has been investigated.
► The results suggest that Al atoms in Al–Mg alloy need lower evaporation field.
► Higher field is needed to evaporate Al atoms in Al–Ag alloy compared with pure Al.
► The tendency is in agreement with the theoretically estimated evaporation fields.