Spectroscopic properties of Cr 3+ in the spinel solid solution

The evolution of the structural environment of Cr 3+ along the solid solution ZnAl2�xCrxO4 has been investigated using a multi-analytical approach. X-ray dif- fraction confirms that the system follows Vegard's law. Diffuse reflectance spectra show a decrease of the crys - tal field parameter with the Cr content, usually related to the increase of the Cr-O bond length in a point charge model. This interpretation is discussed and compared to the data obtained by first-principle calculations based on density functional theory. X-ray absorption near edge