Characteristics of the Mn²⁺ EPR spectra in the oxyfluoride glass ceramics containing SrF₂ nanocrystals

Characteristics of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of the Mn²⁺ ion in the oxyfluoride glass ceramics containing SrF₂ crystalline counterpart has been investigated. Explicit superhyperfine structure (SHF) has been observed in the X-Band EPR spectra taken at 77 K after thermal treatment of the glass precursor. Such SHF structure is characteristic to Mn²⁺ ion in the fluorine coordinated nearest environment which is characteristic to cubic structure of the alkaline earth fluorides. Manganese replaces strontium in the SrF₂ lattice where it has pronounced SHF interaction with surrounding fluorine nuclei. Thus Mn²⁺ ion provides information about crystalline structure of the particular oxyfluoride glass ceramics.