Local Structural Investigation of Near-Infrared-Reflective Black Ca2(Mn,Ti)O4 Pigments Using Synchrotron Radiation X‑Ray and Density Functional Theory Calculations

Layered perovskite black Ca2(Mn,Ti)­O4 ceramics were studied by using synchrotron radiation X-rays (SRX) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the valence states of the cations, average/local structures, and electronic states. The crystallographic data were obtained by the Rietveld refinement of the obtained synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction patterns. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy measurements revealed that the ratios of Mn4+ and Ti4+ were about 82 and 95%, respectively, in all samples, and the Mn/Ti valences were not affected by the introduction of Ti4+. In addition, two pre-edge peaks were observed in the Mn-XANES spectra, but their peak positions and intensities were affected by doping with Ti4+, indicating that the symmetry of the MnO6 octahedra was changed. A comparison of the atomic distances estimated from the Rietveld analysis and radial distribution function (RDF) revealed that there were large differences between the M–M distances (M = Mn, Ti). Therefore, XANES simulations were carried out to obtain models of the local structure. The experimental and theoretical data indicate that the Mn atoms were configured in a zigzagging arrangement, and the distortion of the MnO6 octahedra increased with the increase in the degree of Ti4+ doping. The origin of the changes to the pre-edge peaks was not only the crystal field strength around Mn but also the symmetry of the MnO6 octahedra.