The NanoPES photoelectron beamline installed at the Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Source is presented. The beamline uses bending magnet radiation of the Sibirea-2 storage ring, and includes grazing incidence monochromator with plane gratings for photon energy range of 25–1500 eV as well as the experimental station designed for investigations using photoelectron spectroscopy and absorption spectroscopy techniques. Capabilities of the experimental station are expanded by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and probe microscopy modules.

Two series of the bismuth tantalate pyrochlore samples, codoped with Mg,Mn and Zn,Mn, were synthesized via solid-phase reaction. It was established that the Bi₂Mg(Zn)_xMn_1−xTa₂O_9.5−Δ (x = 0.3; 0.5; 0.7) samples contain the main phase of cubic pyrochlore (sp. gr. Fd-3m) and an admixture of triclinic BiTaO₄ (sp. gr. P-1). In both sets, the amount of BiTaO₄ is proportional to the amount of manganese doping, however, zinc-containing samples have a higher level of impurities than magnesium-containing ones. The unit cell parameter of the Zn,Mn codoped bismuth tantalate phase increases with an increasing content of zinc ions in the samples from 10.4895(5) (x = 0.3) to 10.5325(5) Å (x = 0.7). The unit cell parameter of Mg,Mn codoped bismuth tantalate pyrochlores increases uniformly with an increasing index x(Mg) from 10.4970(8) at x = 0.3 to 10.5248(8) Å at x = 0.7, according to the Vegard rule. The NEXAFS and XPS data showed that the ions were found to have oxidation states of Bi(+3), Ta(+5), Zn(+2) and Mg(+2). In the Ta 4f XPS spectrum of both series of samples, a low energy shift of the absorption band characteristic of tantalum ions with an effective charge of (+5-δ) was observed. The XPS spectra of Bi4f7/2 and Bi4f5/2 also show a shift of bands towards lower energies which is attributed to the presence of some low-charge ions of transition elements in the bismuth position. The NEXAFS spectroscopy data showed that manganese ions in both series of samples have predominantly 2+ and 3+ oxidation states. XPS data indicate that in zinc-containing preparations the proportion of oxidized manganese ions is higher than in magnesium-containing ones.

The effect of Fe and Mg-codoping on the crystal structure, optical and dielectric properties of bismuth tantalate-based pyrochlores has been studied. Samples of Bi₂Mg_xFe_1−xTa₂O_9.5−Δ (x ≤ 0.7) are characterized by a porous dendrite-like microstructure. Fe,Mg-codoped bismuth tantalate pyrochlores are thermally stable up to a temperature of 1140 °C (x = 1). The Bi₂Mg_0.5Fe_0.5Ta₂O_9.5−Δ thermal expansion coefficient increases uniformly and weakly from 3.6 to 9.3 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (30–1050 °C). The unit cell parameter of solid solutions increases uniformly from 10.5009(1) Å (x = 0.3) up to 10.5225(7) Å (x = 0.7). The structural parameters of disordered pyrochlore are determined by the Rietveld method (sp. gr. Fd$\overline{3}$m:2 (227), Z = 8). According to near edge X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data, ions in solid solutions are in the charge states Bi (+3), Mg (+2), Fe (+3), Ta (+5-δ). The Mössbauer spectrum is represented by a symmetric doublet with parameters IS = 0.365 ± 0.0020 mm/s, QS = 0.604 ± 0.034 mm/s, related to Fe³⁺ ions in regular axial octahedral positions. The samples exhibit the properties of dielectrics. The permittivity and the tangent of dielectric losses at 20 °C increases with the growth of iron content in the samples in the range of 28.5–30.5 and 0.001 (1 MHz). The width of the band gap of the obtained materials for direct allowed electronic transitions is in the range of 2.16(5)–2.41(5) eV. The studied samples satisfy the condition of efficient conversion of solar energy into an electrical one and are promising as catalysts and light-absorbing elements for solar panels.

The effect of Zn-doping on the phase composition and optical properties of the Bi₂Zn_xFe_1-xTa₂O_9.5-Δ (x = 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) was studied. XRD data showed that the samples crystallize in the structural type of pyrochlore (sp. gr.Fd-3m). For all the samples, an admixture of bismuth orthotantalate β-BiTaO₄ triclinic modification up to 22.5 wt.% is observed. The content of β-BiTaO₄ increases with zinc doping. The unit cell parameter of the pyrochlore phase rises from 10.4878 (x = 0.3) to 10.5154 Å (x = 0.7). The samples are characterized by a porous microstructure with indistinct grain boundaries. Zinc oxide has a sintering effect on ceramics. The charge state of the ions in Bi₂Zn_xFe_1-xTa₂O_9.5-Δ was investigated by X-ray spectroscopy. NEXAFS and XPS data show that zinc doping does not change the oxidation degree of iron and bismuth ions in pyrochlore. The ions are in the charge states Bi(+3), Fe(+3), Zn(+2). In the Ta4fspectrum, an energy shift of the absorption band towards lower energies by ΔE = 0.5 eV is observed, which is typical for tantalum ions with an effective charge of (+5-δ). With the increase of x(Zn), the Bi 4f_7/2 and Bi 4f_5/2 bands are observed to shift to lower energies due to the distribution of some Zn(II) ions in the bismuth position.