THE INFLUENCE OF INTERSTITIAL SOLUTIONS (H,N) ON THE CERIUM ELECTRONIC-STATE IN CE-FE INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS - AN X-RAY-ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY (XAS) STUDY

We present an x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) investigation performed at the L edges of the rare earth and at the K edge of iron in the R-Fe intermetallic compounds (La,Ce)(2)Fe14BHx and Ce2Fe17(H,N)(x) to elucidate the role of the interstitial doping on the electronic and magnetic properties of these systems. Comparison with x-ray circular magnetic dichroism (XCMD) experiments has been carried out to clarify the localization of 4f magnetic moment at the Ce sites upon hydriding. Both XAS and XCMD results evidence the interplay between the structural and magnetic changes that are associated with the modification of the hybridization between the Fe(3d) and Ce(5d) bands.