Electronic structure of CrBr3 studied by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The electronic structure of high-spin CrBr3 has been investigated by using x-ray photoelectron and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Valence-band and Cr2p core-level spectra have revealed satellite structures on the high-bin ding energy side of the main emission line around 7.7 and II eV, respective ly. The weak satellite structure observed in the valence-band spectrum can be explained by a charge transfer mechanism, if the p-d hybridization is su fficiently large. Nevertheless, for the interpretation of the Cr2p satellit e structure (congruent to 11 eV), competition between the charge transfer a nd the exciton models needs to be considered. [S0163-1829(99)12247-1].