Abstract
The chemical bonding of Mn atoms in (Na1-xBix)(Nb1-yMny)O3 ceramics were analysed using the X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) measurement at the Mn L3,2–edge. In all the compounds coexistence of the covalent bonding MnCV state and ionic Mn+k states was found. The increase in the Bi and Mn content caused the marked dispersion and increased the values of electric conductivity and dielectric permittivity of the ceramics.