Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the oxygen K resonance of NiO: nonlocal charge transfer and double-singlet excitations

We report high-resolution polarization-dependent resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the O K resonance of NiO showing a rich excitation spectrum. We perform multisite Ni6O19 cluster model calculations, revealing that solid state effects are substantial. We identify a nonlocal charge transfer excitation at 4-5 eV and double-singlet creation at 1.75 eV, both exhibiting significant scattering geometry dependence. Apart from an intense band of local charge transfer excitations (above 5 eV) also dd excitations at 1 eV are observed. Finally, we point out that O K RIXS of correlated metal oxides allows a quantitative and consistent determination of the charge transfer energy delta and the Hund coupling energy J(H).     

Orbital degeneracy removed by charge order in triangular antiferromagnet AgNiO2

We report a high-resolution neutron diffraction study on the orbitally degenerate spin-1/2 hexagonal metallic antiferromagnet AgNiO2. A structural transition to a tripled unit cell with expanded and contracted NiO6 octahedra indicates sqrt[3]xsqrt[3] charge order on the Ni triangular lattice. This suggests charge order as a possible mechanism of lifting the orbital degeneracy in the presence of charge fluctuations, as an alternative to the more usual Jahn-Teller distortions. A novel magnetic ground state is observed at low temperatures with the electron-rich S=1 Ni sites arranged in alternating ferromagnetic rows on a triangular lattice, surrounded by a honeycomb network of nonmagnetic and metallic Ni ions. We also report first-principles band-structure calculations that explain microscopically the origin of these phenomena.     

Energetics and electronic structure of refractory elements in the dislocation of NiAl

Using DMol and the discrete variational method within the framework of the density functional theory,we study the alloying effects of Nb,Ti,and V in the [100](010) edge dislocation core of NiAl.We find that when Nb(Ti,V) is substituted for Al in the center-Al,the binding energy of the system reduces 3.00 eV(2.98 eV,2.66 eV).When Nb(Ti,V) is substituted for Ni in the center-Ni,the binding energy of the system reduces only 0.47 eV(0.16 eV,0.09 eV).This shows that Nb(Ti,V) exhibits a strong Al site preference,which agrees with the experimental and other theoretical results.The analyses of the charge distribution,the interatomic energy and the partial density of states show that some charge accumulations appear between the impurity atom and Ni atoms,and the strong bonding states are formed between impurity atom and neighbouring host atoms due mainly to the hybridization of 4d5s(3d4s) orbitals of impurity atoms and 3d4s4p orbitals of host Ni atoms.The impurity induces a strong pinning effect on the [100](010) edge dislocation motion in NiAl,which is related to the mechanical properties of the NiAl alloy.     

KLL Auger resonant Raman transition in metallic Cu and Ni

High energy resolution KL₂₃L₂₃ Auger spectra of polycrystalline Cu and Ni were measured using photon energies up to about 50 eV above the K-absorption edge and down to 5 eV (Cu KLL) and 4 eV (Ni KLL) below threshold. The spectra show strong satellite structures varying considerably as a function of the photon energy. In the sub-threshold region the linear dispersion of the diagram line energy positions and a distortion of the line shape as a function of photon energy, attributable to the Auger resonant Raman process, is clearly observed, indicating the one-step nature of the Auger emission. These changes in the resonant spectra are interpreted using a simple model based on resonant scattering theory in combination with partial density of states obtained from cluster molecular orbital (DV-Xα) calculations.     

Soft x-ray resonant diffraction study of magnetic and orbital correlations in a manganite near half doping

We have utilized resonant x-ray diffraction at the Mn L(II,III) edges in order to directly compare magnetic and orbital correlations in Pr0.6Ca0.4MnO3. Comparing the widths of the magnetic and orbital diffraction peaks, we find that the magnetic correlation length exceeds that of the orbital order by nearly a factor of 2. Furthermore, we observe a large (approximately 3 eV) spectral weight shift between the magnetic and orbital resonant line shapes, which cannot be explained within the classic Goodenough picture of a charge-ordered ground state. To explain the shift, we calculate the orbital and magnetic resonant diffraction line shapes based on a relaxed charge-ordered model.     

Under-coordinated atoms induced local strain, quantum trap depression and valence charge polarization at W stepped surfaces

We have explored the effects of atoms under-coordination on surface structure relaxation, binding energy shift of W stepped surfaces and valence charge polarization by the method of incorporating bond order-length-strength (BOLS) correlation mechanism into high-resolution X-ray photoluminescence spectra (XPS) measurements as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results show that the 4f_7/2 energy levels of bulk, surface skin and step edge W atoms shift deeper from 2.17 to 2.69 eV with respect to that of the isolated W (28.91±0.01 eV) atoms, while the valence charge energy shift upper from inner to outer layer and from bulk to stepped edge. The surface bond contraction occurs around under-coordinated atoms after geometry relaxation calculation. Consistency among BOLS calculations, DFT calculation and experimental measurements clarifies that the surface bond contraction and consolidation due to the effects of under-coordination atoms induce potential trap depression, which provides perturbation to the Hamiltonian and hence contributes to the surface core level shift deeper, and that the surface valence charge are polarized by the densely trapped core-level electrons to upper energy.     

Unusual superexchange pathways in an NiS2 triangular lattice with negative charge-transfer energy

We have studied the electronic structure of the Ni triangular lattice in NiGa(2)S(4) using photoemission spectroscopy and subsequent model calculations. The cluster-model analysis of the Ni 2p core-level spectrum shows that the S 3p to Ni 3d charge-transfer energy is approximately -1 eV and the ground state is dominated by the d(9)L configuration (L is a S 3p hole). Cell perturbation analysis for the NiS(2) triangular lattice indicates that the strong S 3p hole character of the ground state provides the enhanced superexchange interaction between the third-nearest-neighbor sites.     

Chemical contrast in soft x-ray ptychography

The unique strengths of x-ray microscopy are high penetration depth and near-edge resonances that provide chemical information. We use ptychography, a coherent diffractive imaging technique that disposes of the requirement for isolated specimens, and demonstrate resonant imaging by exploiting resonances near the oxygen K edge to differentiate between two oxygen-containing materials. To highlight a biological system where resonant ptychography might be used for chemical mapping of unsliced cells, reconstructions of freeze-dried Deinococcus radiodurans cells at an energy of 517 eV are shown.     

d-d excitations in manganites probed by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

We report a study of electronic excitations in manganites exhibiting a range of ground states, using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the Mn K edge. Excitations with temperature dependent changes correlated with the magnetism were observed as high as 10 eV. By calculating Wannier functions, and finite-q response functions, we associate this dependence with intersite d-d excitations. The calculated dynamical structure factor is found to be similar to the RIXS spectra.     

Electronic structure of bases in DNA duplexes characterized by resonant photoemission spectroscopy near the Fermi level

The electronic structure of bases in DNA duplexes was investigated by resonant photoemission spectroscopy near the Fermi level, in order to specify charge migration mechanisms. We observed a kinetic energy shift of N-KLL Auger electrons and an intensity enhancement of valence electrons on the resonant photoemission spectra for both poly(dG).poly(dC) and poly(dA).poly(dT) DNAs. These directly show the localized unoccupied states of the bases. We conclude that the charge hopping model is pertinent for electric conduction in a DNA duplex, when electrons pass through the unoccupied states.     

Extended X‐ray absorption fine structure and multiple‐scattering simulation of nickel dithiolene complexes Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2n (n = −2, −1, 0) and an olefin adduct Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2(1‐hexene)

A series of Ni dithiolene complexes Ni[S₂C₂(CF₃)]₂ⁿ (n = ?2, ?1, 0) ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) and a 1‐hexene adduct Ni[S₂C₂(CF₃)₂]₂(C₆H₁₂) ( 4 ) have been examined by Ni K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) and extended X‐ray absorption fine‐structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies. Ni XANES for 1 – 3 reveals clear pre‐edge features and approximately +0.7 eV shift in the Ni K‐edge position for `one‐electron' oxidation. EXAFS simulation shows that the Ni—S bond distances for 1 , 2 and 3 (2.11–2.16 Å) are within the typical values for square planar complexes and decrease by ～0.022 Å for each `one‐electron' oxidation. The changes in Ni K‐edge energy positions and Ni—S distances are consistent with the `non‐innocent' character of the dithiolene ligand. The Ni—C interactions at ～3.0 Å are analyzed and the multiple‐scattering parameters are also determined, leading to a better simulation for the overall EXAFS spectra. The 1‐hexene adduct 4 presents no pre‐edge feature, and its Ni K‐edge position shifts by ?0.8 eV in comparison with its starting dithiolene complex 3 . Consistently, EXAFS also showed that the Ni—S distances in 4 elongate by ～0.046 Å in comparison with 3 . The evidence confirms that the neutral complex is `reduced' upon addition of olefin, presumably by olefin donating the π‐electron density to the LUMO of 3 as suggested by UV/visible spectroscopy in the literature.     

Electronic transitions,crystal field effects and phonons in UO2

An extensive optical study of the 5f magnetic semiconductor UO₂ is presented. The experimental data include near normal incidence reflectivity measurements from 0.0025 to 13 eV, absorption and Faraday rotation measurements as function of temperature and of magnetic fields up to 100 kOe and photoemission results.From the data in the fundamental absorption region an energy level scheme is derived. This level scheme differs markedly from an earlier model but it is quantitatively supported by a calculation using the thermochemical Haber-Born process and also by cluster calculations. The localized nature of the 5f electrons is demonstrated.The absorption edge at 2 eV shows an abrupt shift to lower energies at the first order phase transition of UO₂ to the antiferromagnetic state. This shift is shown to be larger than expected from the lattice contraction indicating a magnetic order induced contribution to the total red shift.Below the absorption edge, intra-5f transitions and multiphonon excitations are reported, showing striking order induced effects at and below T_N = 30.8 K.New results are presented for ε_st, ε_opt, ω_TO and ω_LO which fulfill the Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relation.     

Double resonant raman scattering in graphite

We find that the electronic dispersion in graphite gives rise to double resonant Raman scattering for excitation energies up to 5 eV. As we show, the curious excitation-energy dependence of the graphite D mode is due to this double resonant process resolving a long-standing problem in the literature and invalidating recent attempts to explain this phenomenon. Our calculation for the D-mode frequency shift ( 60 cm(-1)/eV) agrees well with the experimental value.     

Hole formation and charge transfer in Y1−xCaxSr2Cu2GaO7, a new oxide superconductor

The technique of transmission electron energy loss spectrometry (EELS) in parallel detection has been utilized to analyze the fine structures associated with the O K and Cu L₃ absorption edges of recently discovered Y_1−xCa_xSr₂Cu₂GaO₇ (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) series of compounds, which exhibit superconductivity when annealed under high-pressure oxygen atmosphere. We find subtle but significant changes in EELS spectral features of nonsuperconducting and superconducting specimens of these compounds. A broad pre-edge feature is observed below the O K absorption edge, at about 528.2 eV which emerges with Ca-doping alone. Evidence is presented for another O K secondary pre-edge feature, at about 1.1 eV below the first O K pre-edge feature in only those specimens which have undergone high-pressure oxygen treatment (i.e. superconducting specimens). We interpret the O K pre-edge feature as due to formation of holes on oxygen sites and propose that the first broad pre-edge feature (at 528.2 eV) is associated with holes on oxygen sites other than the CuO₂ planes, which are responsible for normal conductivity. The second smaller pre-edge feature (at 527.1 eV) is most probably associated with holes in the CuO₂ planes, which are associated with superconductivity in this system. The presence of a secondary smaller O K pre-edge feature in the superconducting specimens appears to correlate well with a broad shoulder on the high energy side of the Cu L₃ edge. The results are interpreted in terms of oxidation of CuO₂ planes through charge transfer between copper and oxygen in the CuO₂ planes, i.e. covalent mixing of O and Cu orbitals at the Fermi level as a result of high oxygen pressure annealing.     

MgCNi3的电子结构、光学性质与超导电性

用第一性原理的密度泛函能带计算方法研究了新近发现的超导体MgCNi3的电子能带结构.计算结果表明其电子结构的基本特征是：Ni的3d态和C的2p态的杂化组成了MgCNi3的导带，费米面附近的物理性质主要由来源于Ni的3d电子态决定.在费米能级(EF)以下30eV的范围内，Ni 3d态构成了能带色散微弱的密集电子态，EF恰好落在Ni 3dyz+zx和3d3z2-r2电子态密度.C 2p态分布在EF以下40—70eV的区域内，Mg主要是以二价离子Mg2+的形式存在.Mg原子的掺杂导致了Ni原子的3d态基本上全部占据，引起Ni原子磁矩的消失.费米能级EF处的态密度N(ＥＦ)是550(states/eV·cell)，由此得到的Sommerfeld常数γeal～445mJ/mol·K2.基于第一性原理的光学性质的计算结果表明：在0—12eV的范围内光吸收主要是从占据的Ni 3d态向C　2p和Ni4s的跃迁.根据这些结果得出结论：MgCNi3的超导电性基本上是强耦合的BCS电子-声子作用机理. 关键词： MgCNi3 高温超导体 电子结构 光学性质     

Origin of XPS binding energy shifts in Ni clusters and atoms on rutile TiO2 surfaces

Cluster-size-dependent binding energy (BE) shifts of Ni 2p_3/2 spectra in Ni clusters with respect to bulk Ni metal have been studied as a function of Ni coverage on clean rutile TiO₂(0 0 1) and TiO₂(1 1 0) surfaces at room temperature. As a common method to distinguish initial and final state contributions to the core-level binding energy shifts in clusters, Auger parameter (AP) analysis of photoelectron spectra has been employed and reveals an obvious initial state contribution at the coverage of 0.5 monolayers (ML). From a comparison of results for TiO₂(0 0 1) and (1 1 0) surfaces, the initial state effect is demonstrated to be strongly affected by the substrate and is assigned to a combination of eigenvalue shift in surface core-level shift (SCLS) and charge transfer between the metal clusters and substrates. The Ni 2p_3/2 BE’s of atomic Ni on TiO₂(0 0 1) and (1 1 0) surfaces are deduced to be 853.69 and 853.55 eV, respectively, from an extrapolation of the experimental BE curves to zero Ni coverage. Compared with atomic Ni in gas phase, relaxation shifts of 7.34 and 7.48 eV are obtained on TiO₂(0 0 1) and (1 1 0) surfaces, respectively. These values are very close to the relaxation shift of 7.3 eV due to d electron screening, indicating d-like screening effects from the TiO₂ substrates after Ni 2p photoionization.     

Geometric and electronic structures of NO adsorbed on Ni,Rh and Pt studied by using near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and resonant photoemission spectroscopy

The geometric and electronic structures of NO adsorbed on three metals (Ni, Rh, and Pt) from 130 to 600 K were investigated by using near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and resonant photoemission spectroscopy (RPS). NEXAFS revealed that NO was molecularly adsorbed on all three metals at 130 K with its molecular axis normal to the surface. The elongation of the NO intramolecular bond on metal was in the order Ni>Rh>Pt, and was related to the electron-back donation from metal-d band to 2π of NO. This order was the same for the electron donation from 5σ of NO to metal-d band estimated by using RPS. With heating, NO was desorbed from Pt without dissociation, whereas NO on Ni and Rh dissociated. Both NEXAFS and RPS showed that the electronic interaction between NO and Pt was increased by heating, but desorption preceded dissociation. The above results were finally related to the catalytic properties of the three metals for the reaction of NO.     

High temperature STM/STS investigations of resonant image states on Au(1 1 1)

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) were used to study the electronic structure of Au(1 1 1) surface in the range of 2-5.5 eV above the Fermi level. In this paper, we concentrate firstly on the position of the upper band gap edge (BE) existing in [1 1 1] direction in Au(1 1 1) and secondly on the position of the resonant image potential surface state (RIS) located in the bulk states approximately 1.1 eV above BE. The experiment was carried out in UHV at two temperatures 294 K and 580 K. Our high temperature STS (HT-STS) results clearly show the presence of RIS and BE local maxima at both temperatures. What is more, a slight shift towards the Fermi level of BE and RIS was observed. Those shifts were the consequence of the change of [1 1 1] band gap and lowering gold work function due to the thermal extension of interatomic distances. Finally, estimation of the work function was given at 294 K and 580 K.     

Spectroscopy of stripe order in La1.8Sr0.2NiO4 using resonant soft x-ray diffraction

Strong resonant enhancements of the charge-order and spin-order superstructure-diffraction intensities in La1.8Sr0.2NiO4 are observed when x-ray energies in the vicinity of the Ni L2,3 absorption edges are used. The pronounced photon-energy and polarization dependences of these diffraction intensities allow for a critical determination of the local symmetry of the ordered spin and charge carriers. We found that not only the antiferromagnetic order but also the charge-order superstructure resides within the NiO2 layers; the holes are mainly located on in-plane oxygens surrounding a Ni2+ site with the spins coupled antiparallel in close analogy to Zhang-Rice singlets in the cuprates.     

Tracking the excitation dynamics in the Mn:Ge(111) metallic interface by resonant electron spectroscopy

Resonant photoemission from the valence band of a (√3 × √3)R30° reconstructed Mn:Ge(111) metallic interface has been carefully analyzed with the aim to track the transition from resonant Raman to normal Auger emission. The transition energy has been compared with the Mn 2p binding energy, as well as with the Mn L(3) absorption edge energy. Close similarities emerge with respect to the case of elemental Mn thin films, suggesting that the excitation dynamics is dominated by the electronic properties of Mn 3d states, in spite of the bonding with Ge atoms. The switching from the resonant Raman Auger (RRAS) to the normal Auger regime is found about 2 eV below the Mn L(3) absorption edge. A change of the lineshape due to the transition from an overall N - 1 electron final state (RRAS channel) to an N - 2 electron final state (normal Auger channel) is evidenced by the analysis of the experimental data, which also allowed the ratio to be tracked between charge delocalization and core-hole time scales as the photon energy is tuned across the Mn L(3) edge.