The (001) clean surface and its initial oxidation were studied using UPS, XPS and work-function measurements. For the clean surface, a so-called surface state was found, and a work function of 2.4±0.1eV was measured. The surface state disappeared for an oxygen exposure of ∼7L, and the work function increased up to 4.0±0.1eV. This initial oxidation was not a simple oxygen-adsorption process but proceeded with the formation of a surface oxide or oxides.

Structure and Initial Oxidation of the LaB6 (001) Surface. Aono, M., Tanaka, T., Bannai, E., Kawai, S.: Applied Physics Letters, 1977, 31[5], 323-5