X-ray-photoelectron-spectroscopy study of the electronic structure of Ni-P metallic glasses

Abstract

X-ray-photoelectron-spectroscopy studies of the core levels and the valence band for ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{79}$ ${\mathrm{P}}_{21}$ and ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{89}$ ${\mathrm{P}}_{11}$ glassy alloys are presented at room temperature and above their crystallization temperatures. The binding energy changes in Ni 2$p_{3/2}$ and P 2p core-level lines and the variation in the satellite intensities as well as the changes in their asymmetry index are combined with Ni valence-band spectra and their satellite intensities to arrive at a comprehensive electronic structure for these alloys. The observed increase and decrease in the density of states at $E_F$ for ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{89}$ ${\mathrm{P}}_{11}$ and ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{79}$ ${\mathrm{P}}_{21}$ are discussed with reference to the short-range stability and glass-forming ability.