Structural distortions and magnetisms in Fe-doped LaMn1-xFexO3 (0 < x ≤ 0.6)

X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) at Mn K-edge and Fe K-edge in LaMn1-xFexO3 show that with the increase of Fe substitution the chemical valence of Mn4+ decreases, while the chemical valence of Fe3+ remains unchanged. Structural distortions, such as the rotating and tilting for oxygen octahedron in the unit cell vary with iron content. A phase transition occurs at the Fe content values of 0.2 similar to 0.3. The evolutions of rotation and tilting angle of FeO6/MnO6 octahedral may be the vital factors to the structure and magnetism. We believe that the spin configuration of Fe3+ may vary from the intermediate spin t(2g)(4)e(g)(1) (S = 3/2) to the higher spin t(32g)e(g)(2) (S = 5/2) near the phase transition.