Incident photon-energy dependence of the electronic density of states in Pd42.5Ni7.5Cu30P20 metallic glass

Abstract

Incident photon-energy dependence of photoemission spectra of Pd 42.5Ni7.5Cu30P20 metallic glass was measured using a synchrotron radiation facility. Compared to the elemental Pd, Ni, or Cu metal, the electronic density of states of this extremely good glass-former is highly suppressed at the Fermi energy, which indicates the existence of covalent bonds in this metallic mixture. From the incident photon-energy dependence of the spectra, partial density of states of the Pd, Ni, and Cu elements can be estimated, which suggests the selective formation of Pd-P bonds using the Pd 4d states. © 2005 The Japan Institute of Metals.