Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy of Pd-Si glasses

In order to determine systematic changes in the density of states with alloy composition, photoelectron spectra at hv=21.2 eV were measured for several amorphous alloys based on the well-known Pd-Si glass system. Three binary alloys with 15, 20, and 25 at. % Si, two ternaries, Pd₈₀ Si₁₇ Cu₃ and Pd₈₀ Si₁₄ Cu₆, and polycrystalline Pd were analyzed. Compared to Pd, both the density of states at the Fermi energy and the d-band width are reduced in the glasses. The d-bands display an overall shift of 0.4 eV over the range of alloy compositions studied. Partial agreement with recent density of states calculations was obtained.