Electronic structure of MgS and MgYb2S4: Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy and self-consistent multiple scattering calculations

•We studied the electronic structure of MgS and MgYb2S4.•We have calculated the EEL spectra using real-space multiple-scattering calculations.•A reduced band gap is estimated for the spinel MgYb2S4.

The electronic structure of MgS and MgYb2S4 have been studied using the fine structure of the Mg-K, S-K, Mg-L2,3, S-L2,3 and Yb-N5 edges measured by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). Our experimental results are compared with real-space full multiple scattering calculations as incorporated in the FEFF9.6 code. All edges are very well reproduced. Total and partial densities of states have been calculated. The calculated densities of states of Mg and S are similar in both compounds. The energy distribution of these states suggests a covalent nature for both materials. For MgYb2S4 a band gap smaller than for MgS is predicted. In this compound the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band are dominated by Yb states.