X-ray absorption spectra and electronic structure of Haucke-phase-type intermetallic compounds

— The K X-ray absorption discontinuity of cobalt in the compounds of the RCo5 family (R = rare earth or yttrium) has been measured with a bent crystal spectrograph. It is observed that the main discontinuity shifts to the low energy side, with respect to that in pure cobalt indicating a flow of charge from R to Co. The plot between the observed shifts and the number of covalently bonded electrons (calculated using a semi-empirical metallic radii formalism due to Pauling) suggests a definite correlation. This plot is then used to obtain the number of covalently bonded electrons of cobalt in TmCo5 and YCo5 for which the self-consistent radii data is not available. Useful conclusions are obtained about chemical bonding in these two compounds.