Thermodynamic calculation of the characteristics of metal thermionic emission

The thermodynamic equilibria of the “Fermi–Dirac gas–Maxwell gas–Boltzmann gas” and “metal–saturated vapor” systems are considered (with allowance for charged particles). It is shown that the work function of a metal at $0$ K is equal to the Mulliken electronegativity of its atoms. For the latter case, it is proposed to take into account the relationship between the work-function thermal coefficient and the thermodynamic functions of positive and negative metal ions.