EPR, optical and infrared absorption studies of Mn2+ ions doped in zinc malate trihydrate single crystal

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies have been carried out on Mn2+ ions doped in zinc malate trihydrate single crystals in the temperature range 123-413 K on X-band frequency. The EPR spectrum at room temperature exhibits a group of five fine structure transitions each splits into six hyperfine components. Angular variation studies reveal that Mn2+ ions enter the lattice substitutionally. From the observed EPR spectrum, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters have been evaluated. The variation of zero-field splitting parameter (D) with temperature is measured. From the optical absorption spectrum, the crystal field splitting parameter Dq and the Racah interelectronic repulsion parameters B and C have been evaluated. The infrared spectrum exhibits bands characteristic of the carboxylic acid salts.