EPR and optical absorption studies of Cr3+ ions in d-gluconic acid monohydrate

EPR studies are carried out on Cr3+ ions doped in d-gluconic acid monohydrate (C6H12O7·H2O) single crystals at 77 K. From the observed EPR spectra, the spin Hamiltonian parameters g, |D| and |E| are measured to be 1.9919, 349 (×10−4) cm−1 and 113 (×10−4) cm−1, respectively. The optical absorption of the crystal is also studied at room temperature. From the observed band positions, the cubic crystal field splitting parameter Dq (2052 cm−1) and the Racah interelectronic repulsion parameter B (653 cm−1) are evaluated. From the correlation of EPR and optical data the nature of bonding of Cr3+ ion with its ligands is discussed.