Electronic structure of Pr$_{0.67}$Ca$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ near the Fermi level studied by ultraviolet photoelectron and x-ray absorption spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study explores the temperature-dependent electronic structure of Pr$_{0.67}$Ca$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ using photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy, revealing phase-dependent hybridization and charge transfer characteristics.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the charge transfer energy and hybridization changes near the Fermi level in Pr$_{0.67}$Ca$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$, highlighting phase-dependent electronic behavior.

Findings

Charge transfer energy is larger than previously reported.

Temperature affects Mn 3d - O 2p hybridization.

Charge localization linked to electronic phase separation.

Abstract

We have investigated the temperature-dependent changes in the near-$E$$_F$ occupied and unoccupied states of Pr$_{0.67}$Ca$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ which shows the presence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases. The temperature-dependent changes in the charge and orbital degrees of freedom and associated changes in the Mn 3$d$ - O 2$p$ hybridization result in varied O 2$p$ contributions to the valence band. A quantitative estimate of the charge transfer energy ($E$$_{CT}$) shows a larger value compared to the earlier reported estimates. The charge localization causing the large $E$$_{CT}$ is discussed in terms of different models including the electronic phase separation.