  The electronic structure and chemical bonding of the recently discovered
inverse perovskite Sc3AlN, in comparison to ScN and Sc metal have been
investigated by bulk-sensitive soft x-ray emission spectroscopy. The measured
Sc L, N K, Al L1, and Al L2,3 emission spectra are compared with calculated
spectra using first principle density-functional theory including dipole
transition matrix elements. The main Sc 3d - N 2p and Sc 3d - Al 3p chemical
bond regions are identified at -4 eV and -1.4 eV below the Fermi level,
respectively. A strongly modified spectral shape of 3s states in the Al L2,3
emission from Sc3AlN in comparison to pure Al metal is found, which reflects
the Sc 3d - Al 3p hybridization observed in the Al L1 emission. The differences
between the electronic structure of Sc3AlN, ScN, and Sc metal are discussed in
relation to the change of the conductivity and elastic properties.
