Electronic structure ofα- andβ-brass

The unoccupied conduction band and the occupied valence band of α- and β-brass (Cu-Zn) have been studied by inverse photoemission and photoemission spectroscopy. The experimental spectra have been interpreted with the help of calculations based on full potential linearized augmented plane wave method using density functional theory. The modification of the conduction and valence bands between α- and β-brass is related to the change in structure and increase in Zn content. For CuZn, the density of states exhibits a monotonic decrease across the Fermi level (EF) with a dip at about 2 eV above EF, but no evidence of a minimum representing a pseudogap is observed at EF.