The binding energies of kink-site atoms were deduced from a kinetic energy analysis of low-temperature field-evaporated ions by using high-resolution pulsed-laser time-of-flight atom-probe field-ion microscopy. The data were collected from atomically well-defined surfaces. The binding energies of metal atoms in kink sites, which were obtained by using this low-temperature high-field method, were found to agree with the cohesive energies of these metals, as derived using thermodynamic methods. The binding energy of Co atoms in Pt3Co, in both the ordered and disordered states, was 0.65eV higher than that in pure Co. On the other hand, the binding energy of Pt in the alloy was about 0.1eV lower than that in pure Pt.

J.Liu, C.Wu, T.T.Tsong: Physical Review B, 1991, 43[14], 11595-604