Formation of intercalate-like systems of graphite-ytterbium monolayers on the Ni(111) surface

The ytterbium intercalation under a graphite monolayer formed on the Ni(111) surface has been studied by Auger electron and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The features of the electronic structure of the intercalate-like thin-film compound formed in this process are analyzed. It is shown that the energy shift of the pi and sigma states in the valence band toward higher binding energies (by similar to 2 and similar to 1 eV, respectively) can be described in terms of hybridization of the carbon pi states in the graphite monolayer with the d states of the underlying metal. (C) 2000 MAIK Nauka/ Interperiodica.