Soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy study of Mo-rich SrMn1-xMoxO3 (x ≥ 0.5)

Electronic structures of perovskite oxides of SrMn1-xMoxO3 in the Mo-rich regime (x >= 0.5) have been investigated by employing soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Mn 2p XAS spectra of SrMn1-xMoxO3 indicate that the valence states of Mn ions are divalent and that they remain nearly unchanged for x >= 0.5. On the other hand, the Mo 3p XAS spectra of SrMn1-xMoxO3 show some changes, suggesting that the valence states of Mo ions decrease with increasing x for x >= 0.5. These conclusions are supported by the unoccupied Mn 3d and Mo 4d states, observed experimentally in the O 1s XAS spectra of SrMn1-xMoxO3.