Work function measurements of olivine: Implication to photoemission charging properties in planetary environments

• KPFM was confirmed to be an available tool for measuring work function of insulator.
• Work function of olivine falls in the range of 7.3–8.5 eV.
• Photoemission of olivine occurs under the irradiation with wavelength of <171 nm.
• Surface morphology and crystal orientation have effects on work function.

For understanding the ubiquitous photoemission charging of solid surface in planetary environments, it is important to characterize the photoemission charging properties of silicate minerals such as the work function. In this study, we measured the work function of olivine mineral based on the measurements of contact potential difference by using an ultrahigh vacuum Kelvin probe force microscopy. Our results showed that work function on olivine mineral surface is mainly affected by surface morphology and crystal orientation and that the variation range of work function is 7.3–8.5 eV. It implicates that photoemission of the olivine mineral occurs under the X-ray and solar ultraviolet irradiation with wavelength of <171 nm. Consequently, it is possible to form electrostatic field of +(5–10) V on the sunlit planet, moon or asteroid surfaces due to dust photoemission charging, which even induces the migration of dust grains and the formation of dust-plasma atmosphere. Those are important problems worried to be solved for future lunar missions. Additionally, our work can help to instruct the dust mitigation technology and the electrostatic beneficiation in future space missions.