ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURE OF PURE AND ALKALI-METAL-INTERCALATED VSE2

The valence bands of the layered compound VSe2 and the related interca lation compounds NaxVSe2, KxVSe2, and CsxVSe2 have been investigated b y means of angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, and compared to self-consistent linear augmented plane-wave (LAPW) band calculations. The intercalation compounds were prepared in situ by deposition of Na, K, and Ca on VSe2 cleavage surfaces. The intercalation was monitored by core-level spectroscopy, and although K was found to intercalate mo re slowly than Na and Cs, estimated alkali concentrations of x = 0.2-0 .3 were reached for all three alkali metals. Additional depositions ma inly seemed to increase the intercalation depth. Good agreement betwee n LAPW calculations and valence-band spectra was found, in particular for the dispersion along the layers. Normal-emission spectra, obtained at different photon energies, indicated vanishing perpendicular dispe rsion, but in spectra measured under variation of the emission angle s ome band-edge signatures were seen, which suggests that some perpendic ular dispersion remains, in accordance with the LAPW calculations. The lack of dispersion in the normal-emission spectra could be due to int ercalation induced structural transformations, leading to stacking dis order. Also correlation effects may contribute. The rigid-band model i s found inadequate, except as a crude approximation, for describing th e changes during the initial phase of intercalation. It might be used to describe the continued intercalation, however, under condition that the intercalation modified bands are used. The need for studies that probe both electronic and crystallographic structure (including defect s) is stressed. [SO163-1829(98)08536-1].