Measured and Calculated Electronic Structure of Ni0.40Pd0.400P0.20 and Cu0.400Pd0.400P0.20

Abstract

ABSTRACTX-ray Photoemission spectra of Ni0.40Pd0.40P0.20 and Cu0.40Pd0.40P0.20 in the amorphous states are compared to each other and to first principles calculations of the electronic density of states. The electronic structure is calculated for a previously validated amorphous model of Ni0.40Pd0.40P0.20 and for the same amorphous structure but with Cu replacing Ni. The measured and calculated electronic structures of Ni0.40Pd0.40P0.20 agree and exhibit very little charge transfer to Pd. However, the measured and calculated electronic structures of Cu0.40Pd0.40P0.20 differ considerably. In Cu0.40Pd0.40P0.20 there is a large electron transfer to Pd. The local densities of states on Pd atoms in different CuPdP local environments that arise in the amorphous model shed light on this dramatic charge redistribution.