XPS examination of newly obtained (Na0.5Pb0.5)(Mn0.5Nb0.5)O3 ceramics

New (Na0.5Pb0.5)(Nb0.5Mn0.5)O3 ceramics have been obtained from oxides by sintering in air, using a two-step process with precursor phase. The ceramics showed a perovskite phase (98%) with symmetry identified as monoclinic space group P21/m. The cell parameters were: a = 11.195(2) Å, b = 11.249(1) Å, c = 11.303(2) Å, β = 89.77(1)0, V = 1423.2(3) Å3. XPS examination of the compound allowed it to estimate the average composition as (Na0.90Pb0.55)(Mn0.32Nb0.53)O2.70. The SEM analysis showed the real distribution of the atoms within the perovskite phase. Precipitates of lead, sodium and manganese oxides were found. The valence band consisted of O 2p states hybridized with Nb 4d states containing an admixture of Mn 3d and Pb 6p states. A mixed ionic and covalent character of the bonds was found from the chemical shift. The presence of oxygen vacancies was deduced from the electric conductivity, characterized by an activation energy equal to 0.37 and 0.48 eV.