Field emission: applying the "magic emitter" validity test to a recent paper, and related research-literature integrity issues

This work concerns studies of field electron emission (FE) from large area emitters. It discusses--and where possible corrects--several literature weaknesses related to the analysis of experimental current-voltage data and related emitter characterization, using a recent paper in Applied Surface Science to exemplify these weaknesses. One weakness, not detected in the published paper, is that current-density experiments and related theoretical predictions there differ by a large factor, in this case of order 10^(16). The work also shows that a recently introduced validity test--the "magic emitter" test--can be used, at the immediate-pre-submission or review stages, to help uncover scientific problems. More generally, in the literature of FE from large area emitters over the last 15 years or so, there appear to be many papers (perhaps hundreds of papers) with some or all of the weaknesses discussed. The scientific integrity of this research area, and of the related peer review processes, appear to be significantly broken, and attempts to correct the situation by the normal processes of science have had limited effect. There seems a growing case for independent wider investigation into research integrity issues of this general kind, and possibly for later action by Governments.