X-ray absorption near edge structure investigation of iron–sodium silicate glasses

X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy has been used at the O K and Fe L _2,3 edges to investigate the electronic and atomic structure of (Fe ₂O ₃) _x(Na ₂O) _0.30(SiO ₂) _{0.70 − x} (x < 0.2) obtained by melt-quench technique. The Fe L _2,3 edge spectra show that the Fe atoms are in octahedral coordination. The O K edge spectra reveal no change in coordination of Fe and increased degree of hybridization between O 2p and Fe 3d orbitals with iron doping. It is estimated that about 10% Fe ²⁺ and 90% Fe ³⁺ are in these glasses by peak fitting analysis of Fe L ₃ edge. The ligand-field splitting of Fe 3d orbital is about 1.6 eV.