Effects of Ce vs. Lu substitution on the electronic structure of rare earth-transition metal compounds

Abstract

We report the results of a combined UV photoemission and inverse photoemission spectroscopy investigation of some isostructural rare earth (R) intermetallic compounds, i.e. CeCo 2, LuCo 2, CeRh 2, LuRh 2, Ce 7Rh 3 and Lu 7Rh 3, aiming to highlight the effects, on both the occupied and unoccupied d-derived partial density of states, of R substitution on different transition metal (M) hosts. These effects cannot be detected by X-ray spectroscopies because of the sizeable f-related contribution while, for cross-section reasons, UV spectroscopies may allow direct access to the d-like states. The results are discussed in terms of the different spatial extents of Ce and Lu 5d wavefunctions and of the degree of intermixing with the M partner d valence states.