Photoelectric Emission from Polycrystalline Graphite

Abstract

Energy distribution of the photoelectrons from polycrystalline graphite were measured by retarding-potential methods in spherical phototubes with small, central, interchangeable emitters. There were distinct deviations from metallic behavior. The results were consistent with a density of states that was relatively small at the Fermi level and that rose to a value several-fold higher 1 ev away. The photoelectric yield from graphite is about ten times below that of common metals.