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A Possible Origin of Exo-Electron Emission in Plastically Deformed Metals

Abstract

THE blackening of certain photographic emulsions by freshly fractured or abraded surfaces was first studied in detail by Russell in 18971. This phenomenon, the Russell effect, is now known to be a consequence of the formation of hydrogen peroxide on the freshly exposed metal surfaces2. More recent work by Grunberg3 indicated that the formation of hydrogen peroxide is initiated, in the presence of water vapour and oxygen, by the emission of low-energy exo-electrons4. This emission received considerable attention by a number of Continental workers5, and it is generally accepted that in the case of metals the electrons are emitted from crystal imperfections in the freshly formed or distorted oxide layer.

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References

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MELEKA, A., BARR, W. A Possible Origin of Exo-Electron Emission in Plastically Deformed Metals. Nature 187, 232–233 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/187232a0

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