PREREQUISITE DEFINITIONS
Work Function
The work function is essentially the energy required to remove an electron from a
solid surface to a point just above the surface in a vacuum. It serves as a measure
of how tightly the electrons are bound to the material. Let us imagine that we have
a solid material exposed to a vacuum. Each electron within the material is at a
certain energy level, represented by the Fermi level. The work function acts as a
barrier to the escape of electrons from the material. If the work function is high, it
means that a significant amount of energy is needed to remove an electron
