Metallic Contact
If two metals having differing work functions are touched together, one steals electrons from the other, and the opposite net charges grow larger and larger; this is the Volta effect. The process is halted when the difference in electric potential (electrostatic potential) between the two metals reaches a particular value (the difference in work function values - usually less than one volt.) At this point, the Fermi levels for the two metals are equal, and there is no voltage difference between them.
Read more about this topic: Contact Electrification
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