Mn 2p and O 1s X-ray absorption spectroscopy of manganese oxides

Manganese oxides (MnOx) are used as electrode materials in many different energy storage applications such as batteries and supercapacitors. X-ray spectromicroscopy, using near edge X-ray absorption spectra (NEXAFS) for chemical speciation, is a powerful tool to study reduction and oxidation processes in such systems. High quality reference spectra are required for both qualitative identification and quantitative mapping of MnOx species. Here we present accurate, quantitative Mn 2p and O 1s NEXAFS spectra of MnO, MnSO₄, Mn₃O₄, Mn₂O₃, α-MnO₂, β-MnO₂, and KMnO₄, measured using both transmission and total electron yield X-ray absorption techniques. An example of the use of these reference spectra in a study of Zn/MnO₂ batteries is given.