The field effect upon water condensate on the surface of a Pt field emitter was studied. An increase in the electric field caused an unusual increase in field emission, which was attributed to a decrease in the work function on a highly emissive region of the emitter. It seemed that the main cause was the removal of adsorbed H2O from the area. The diffusion of a thick layer of H2O on the Pt emitter was examined at temperatures ranging from 115 to 135K, during a transition from a state of field-induced redistribution of H2O to the thermal equilibrium state. The activation energy for diffusion was estimated to be between 21 and 27kJ/mol.

R.Bryl, T.Wysocki, R.Blaszczyszyn: Applied Surface Science, 1995, 87-88, 69-74