Electronic structure and surface oxidation of LaNi5, Er6Mn23, and related systems

Abstract

Photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation and bulk samples cleaved in situ has been used to determine the electronic structure of LaNi₅, LaNi₅Ti_0.1, LaNi₅Zr_0.1, and Er₆Mn₂₃. Comparison to analogous measurements of elemental Ni and Mn shows that the occupied states are dominated by the Ni‐ and Mn‐derived d bands. Exposure to oxygen (up to ∼100 L of O₂ at 300 °K) unambiguously results in an oxidized state for Ni and Mn at the suface.