Electronic structure of La 3d in gallate and aluminate single crystals

An investigation of the 3d X-ray photoelectron spectra of lanthanum in LaGaO3, SrLaAlO4, SrLaGaO4 and SrLaGa3O7 is reported. The splitting of La 3d spectra is found to be more complicated that has been previously reported. The energy separation of the doublet structure 3d(9)4f(0)L and 3d(9)4f(1)L decreases with the decrease of coordination number of the La ion. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.