Structure of Undercooled Liquid Pd Probed by X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

We report x-ray absorption spectra of high temperature solid Pd at 1770 K, liquid Pd at 1850 K, and undercooled liquid Pd at 1770 and 1670 K (about 160 K below Tₘ0ex0ex=0ex0ex1827K). Data of excellent quality were collected at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility using an experimental setup combining x-ray absorption spectroscopy, x-ray absorption temperature scans, and x-ray diffraction. The data have been interpreted using an advanced data-analysis method leading to the reliable determination of the radial distribution function $g(r)$ up to r≈3. The structural differences between undercooled liquid Pd and the liquid in thermodynamic equilibrium are discussed.