Valence states of iron ions in nanostructured yttrium iron garnet Y3Fe5O12 studied by means of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Nanostructured samples of yttrium iron garnet Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 obtained by plastic deformation method (high-pressure torsion) were studied with help of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy using Fe 2 p and O 1 s spectra. Experimental spectra were compared with crystal field multiplet calculations for Fe ions. Some amount of Fe 2+ ions in nanostructured Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 was found. The concentration of Fe 2+ ions was found to be increased with the increase of the degree of plastic deformation.