Electronic structure of SrPt_4Ge_{12}: a combined photoelectron spectroscopy and band structure study

TL;DR

This study combines photoelectron spectroscopy and band structure calculations to analyze the electronic properties of SrPt4Ge12, revealing the dominant role of Ge 4p electrons at the Fermi level and validating theoretical models for superconductivity.

Contribution

It provides a detailed electronic structure analysis of SrPt4Ge12 using combined experimental and theoretical methods, enhancing understanding of its superconducting properties.

Findings

Fermi level states mainly from Ge 4p electrons

Pt 5d shell is effectively full

Good agreement between measured and calculated spectra

Abstract

We present a combined study of the electronic structure of the superconducting skutterudite derivative SrPt4Ge12 by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and full potential band structure calculations including an analysis of the chemical bonding. We establish that the states at the Fermi level originate predominantly from the Ge 4p electrons and that the Pt 5d shell is effectively full. We find excellent agreement between the measured and the calculated valence band spectra, thereby validating that band structure calculations in combination with photoelectron spectroscopy can provide a solid basis for the modeling of superconductivity in the compounds MPt4Ge12 (M = Sr, Ba, La, Pr) series.