title: Electron work function-a promising guiding parameter for material design.
abstract: Using nickel added X70 steel as a sample material, we demonstrate that electron work function (EWF), which largely reflects the electron behavior of materials, could be used as a guide parameter for material modification or design. Adding Ni having a higher electron work function to X70 steel brings more "free" electrons to the steel, leading to increased overall work function, accompanied with enhanced e(-)-nuclei interactions or higher atomic bond strength. Young's modulus and hardness increase correspondingly. However, the free electron density and work function decrease as the Ni content is continuously increased, accompanied with the formation of a second phase, FeNi3, which is softer with a lower work function. The decrease in the overall work function corresponds to deterioration of the mechanical strength of the steel. It is expected that EWF, a simple but fundamental parameter, may lead to new methodologies or supplementary approaches for metallic materials design or tailoring on a feasible electronic base.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada.
authors.forename: Ziran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xianguo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada.|School of Mechanical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dongyang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Suncor Energy, Fort McMurray, Alberta, T9H 3E3, Canada.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.affiliation: Metallurgical/Materials R&D, GIW Industries, Grovetown, GA 30813-2842, USA.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tian