Magnetic circular dichroism in the soft X-ray absorption spectra of intercalation compounds FexTiS2

In order to directly investigate the origin of the magnetic moment in intercalation compounds FexTiS2, we have measured the magnetic circular dichroism of the soft X-ray core absorption spectra. In the Ti 2p XAS spectra the magnetic circular dichroism is clearly seen, suggesting that a magnetic moment is induced on the Ti atom through the hybridization with the Fe 3d orbitals. We quantitatively estimate the orbital angular momentum and spin of the Fe and Ti atoms. The magnetic moment due to the orbital angular momentum of the Fe atom decreases from 0.7 to 0.3μB/Fe atom with the increase of x, revealing that the Fe 3d electron states have more itinerant character with increasing x. On the other hand, the orbital magnetic moment of the Ti atom is estimated as 0–0.06μB/Ti atom.