X-ray spectroscopic investigation of some spinel structures

K-absorption edges of cations in the manganites of magnesium, nickel, copper, zinc and cadmium and ferrite samples of composition, Mg_1?x Mn_x Fe₂O₄ (x=0, 0·25, 0·50, 0·75, 1·0), have been recorded employing a 40 cm curved mica crystal spectrograph of transmission type. It is observed that the absorption edges for the specimen shift towards the shorter wavelength side of the metal edge position. Shifts of both the absorption edges and the main absorptoin peaks for ferrites and manganites have been compared with compounds in which the oxidation state of the cation is well known. It is found that the manganese ions in these ferrites and manganites exist in valence states two and three respectively while iron in the ferrite samples is present in oxidation state three. An attempt has been made to interpret the observed absorption edge features in the light of neutron and X-ray diffraction studies on the same ferrite and manganite samples.