Incident Photon-Energy Dependence of the Electronic Density of States in Pd_42.5Ni_7.5Cu₃₀P₂₀ Metallic Glass

Abstract

Incident photon-energy dependence of photoemission spectra of Pd_42.5Ni_7.5Cu₃₀P₂₀ 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.