CHARGE REDISTRIBUTION IN AUZN - AN X-RAY-ABSORPTION NEAR-EDGE-STRUCTURE STUDY

L-edge x-ray-absorption near-edge structure (XANES) has been used to investigate the charge distribution in the intermetallic compound AuZn. It is found that the Au L3,2-edge XANES of AuZn exhibits a noticeable white line at the absorption threshold indicating 5d electron depletion at the Au site in AuZn. Analysis of the area under the white line yields a depletion of 0.052 5d electron at the Au site in AuZn relative to Au metal, in qualitative agreement with the charge compensation model analysis using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Mossbauer data. The latter shows a 5d depletion count of 0.14 electron. The implication of these analyses is discussed.