The subjects of the thesis are theoretical first principles calculations of X-ray absorption (XA) spectra and current induced spin transfer torque. XA spectra calculated from atomic multiplet theory and from band structure calculations, based on density functional theory for La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 have been compared to experiment. The comparison shows that the effect of the core hole created in the XA process must be considered in the calculation. The theory by Mahan, Nozières and De Dominicis (MND) of dynamical core hole screening is generalised to multiband systems and implemented in first principle calculations. Calculations of the XA spectrum of graphite, including dynamical core hole screening, are shown to better reproduce the relative intensity of the peaks in the experimental spectrum compared to static calculations based on the local density of state of a core excited atom. In combination with experiments the developed method to calculate XA spectra is used to investigate the electronic structure of mixed valent Yb, hydrogen storage in carbon nanotubes and the structure of liquid water. Moreover, a method to calculate the current induced spin transfer torque in materials with a helical spin density wave from first principles has been developed. The method is applied to rare earth metals and it is shown that a current along the axis of spin rotation induces a torque which gives rise to a rotation of the magnetisation direction.

Polymer-based photovoltaics have the potential to contribute to boosting photovoltaic energy conversion overall. Besides allowing large-area inexpensive processing, polymeric materials have the added benefit of opening new market applications for photovoltaics due to their low-weight and interesting mechanical properties. The energy conversion efficiency values of polymer photovoltaics have reached new record values over the past years. It is however crucial that stability issues are addressed together with efficiency optimization. Understanding fundamental materials aspects is key in both areas. In the work presented in this thesis, the morphology of polymer:fullerene films and its influence on device performance was studied, as well as the effect of light exposure on the surface of fullerene films. Several polyfluorene copolymers were used for the morphology studies, where the effects of changing spin-coating solvent and of side chain engineering were investigated with dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (dSIMS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Polymer-enriched surfaces were found in all blend films, even in the cases with homogeneous distributions in the bulk. Side chain engineering of the polymer led to gradual changes in the compositional variations perpendicular to the surface, and to slight variations in the photocurrent. The electronic structure of the fullerene derivative PCBM was studied in detail and the spectroscopic fingerprint of the materials was analysed by comparison with theoretically simulated spectra. Photo-stability studies done in air showed that the surface of fullerene films underwent severe damages at the molecular level, which is evident from changes in the valence band and X-ray absorption spectra. These changes were explained by transitions from sp2-type to sp3 hybridization of the carbon atoms in the cage that resulted in the destruction of the fullerene cage.

Water is one of the most common compounds on earth and is essential for all biological activities. Water has, however, been a mystery for many years due to the large number of unusual chemical and physical properties, e.g. decreased volume during melting and maximum density at 4 °C. The origin of the anomalies behavior is the nature of the hydrogen bond. This thesis will presented an x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study to reveal the hydrogen bond structure in liquid water. The x-ray absorption process is faster than a femtosecond and thereby reflects the molecular orbital structure in a frozen geometry locally around the probed water molecules. The results indicate that the electronic structure of liquid water is significantly different from that of the solid and gaseous forms. The molecular arrangement in the first coordination shell of liquid water is actually very similar as the two-hydrogen-bonded configurations at the surface of ice. This discovery suggests that most molecules in liquid water have two-hydrogen-bonded configurations with one donor and one acceptor hydrogen bond compared to the four-hydrogen-bonded tetrahedral structure in ice. This result is controversial since the general picture is that the structure of liquid water is very similar to the structure of ice. The results are, however, consistent with x-ray and neutron diffraction data but reveals serious discrepancies with structures based on current molecular dynamics simulations. The two-hydrogen-bond configuration in liquid water is rigid and heating from 25 °C to 90 °C introduce a minor change in the hydrogen-bonded configurations. Furthermore, XAS studies of water in aqueous solutions show that ion hydration does not affect the hydrogen bond configuration of the bulk. Only water molecules in the close vicinity to the ions show changes in the hydrogen bond formation. XAS data obtained with fluorescence yield are sensitive enough to resolved electronic structure of water molecules in the first hydration sphere and to distinguish between different protonated species. Hence, XAS is a useful tool to provide insight into the local electronic structure of a hydrogen-bonded liquid and it is applied for the first time on water revealing unique information of high importance.

This thesis is based on experimental studies in chemical physics. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and phthalocyanine’s (Pc’s), interesting in many future perspectives, have been deposited as thin films and studied as follows. Information has been obtained on e.g. molecular orientation, crystal structure, depth profile of the chemical composition, electrochemical properties and electronic structure. This has been achieved by means of a combination of techniques: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), density functional theory calculations (DFT), UV-visible absorption spectroscopy (UVVIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Metal-free phthalcyanine (H2Pc) has been shown to form films with different crystal structure and molecular orientation depending on deposition method, evaporation/sublimation or powder deposition, on commercial conducting glass (fluorine doped tin oxide, FTO), which is used e.g. in solar cells and organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). The unoccupied molecular orbitals are divided in x, y and z space coordinates of the molecule and also divided in inequivalent nitrogen components. The electronic structure is also studied for a sublimated titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) film and related to the metal-free phthalocyanine. The ligand field around the titanium atom in TiOPc is compared with that of TiO2 to delineate the unoccupied levels recorded by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Nanostructured TiO2 films were manufactured by screen printing/doctor blading on FTO. Such films were additionally covered with lutetium diphthalocyanine (LuPc2) by means of surface assembly from solution. LuPc2-, LuPc2+ and LuPc2H were identified and the stability of the electrochromic reactions in this system was monitored. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been used to grow nanometer sized anatase TiO2 crystals on pre-oxidized Si (111) without formation of interfacial carbon and with an interface layer of the size of 15- 25Å. The interface layer was found to be amorphous TiSixOy with graded stoichiometry.

Synthesis and Characterization of Some Low and Negative Thermal Expansion Materials Tamas Varga 370 pages Directed by Dr. Angus P. Wilkinson The high-pressure behavior of several negative thermal expansion materials was studied by different methods. In-situ high-pressure x-ray and neutron diffraction studies on several compounds of the orthorhombic Sc2W3O12 structure revealed an unusual bulk modulus collapse at the orthorhombic to monoclinic phase transition. In some members of the A2M3O12 family, a second phase transition and/or pressure-induced amorphization were also seen at higher pressure. The mechanism for volume contraction on compression is different from that on heating. A combined in-situ high pressure x-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopic study has been carried out for the first time. The pressure-induced amorphization in cubic ZrW2O8 and ZrMo2O8 was studied by following the changes in the local coordination environments of the metals. A significant change in the average tungsten coordination was found in ZrW2O8, and a less pronounced change in the molybdenum coordination in ZrMo2O8 on amorphization. A kinetically frustrated phase transition to a high-pressure crystalline phase or a kinetically hindered decomposition, are likely driving forces of the amorphization. A complementary ex-situ study confirmed the greater distortion of the framework tetrahedra in ZrW2O8, and revealed a similar distortion of the octahedra in both compounds. The possibility of stabilizing the low thermal expansion high-temperature structure in AM2O7 compounds to lower temperatures through stuffing of ZrP2O7 was explored. Although the phase transition temperature was suppressed in MIxZr1-xMIIIxP2O7 compositions, the chemical modification employed was not successful in stabilizing the high-temperature structure to around room temperature. An attempt has been made to control the thermal expansion properties in materials of the (MIII0.5MV0.5)P2O7-type through the choice of the metal cations and through manipulating the ordering of the cations by different heat treatment conditions. Although controlled heat treatment resulted in only short-range cation ordering, the choice of the MIII cation had a marked effect on the thermal expansion behavior of the materials. Different grades of fluorinert were examined as pressure-transmitting media for high-pressure diffraction studies. All of the fluorinerts studied became nonhydrostatic at relatively low pressures (~1 GPa).

Les diverses perovskites de strontium-fer présentent de très fortes corrélations entre la structurecristalline et les phénomènes d’ordre de lacunes d’oxygènes, de charge, de spin et d’orbitales. Danscette thèse, nous avons réalisé une étude systématique des relations entre les ordres de charges etles ordres de spins selon les différents environnements cristallographiques rencontrés pour lescations Fe3+ et Fe4+ dans la phase Sr4Fe4O11, pour le cation Fe3+ dans les phases Sr3Fe2O6 et Sr2Fe2O10et pour le cation Fe2+ dans la phase SrFeO2. Les synthèses des phases polycristallines furent réaliséesvia des voies « solide » ou « sol-gel » en complément de la synthèse de cristaux préparés à l’aide d’unfour à image à fusion de zone verticale pour les phases Sr4Fe4O11 et Sr2Fe2O10. La qualité cristalline etchimique des oxydes fut contrôlée par diffraction de rayons X sur poudre et spectroscopieMössbauer alors que l’étude de la structure électronique de chaque phase a été réalisée à l’aide despectroscopie d’absorption de rayons X. Finalement, les structures magnétiques des phases Sr3Fe2O6et Sr4Fe4O11 sont aussi présentées. / The relationship of the crystallographic, magnetic, and electronic structure have long been of highinterest in research. Strontium iron oxides have structural, charge, spin, and orbital degrees offreedom, and thus give rich information to study for the condensed matter scientists. In this thesis,we have systematically studied the strontium iron oxides based on the freedom of the iron charge:Fe3+ and Fe4+ mixed valence compound SrFeO2,75 , Fe3+ compound Sr3Fe2O6 and SrFeO2,5 with differentcoordination around Fe3+ and Fe2+ compound SrFeO2. The synthesis of the polycrystalline compoundsare through either solid state reaction or sol-gel method. Single crystals of SrFeO2,75 and SrFeO2,5have been prepared by floating zone furnace. The purity of all the compounds is checked by lab x-raydiffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Electronic structures have been studied by x-ray absorptionspectroscopy for all these compounds. Special efforts have been used to investigate the magneticstructure of SrFeO2,75 and Sr3Fe2O6 .

Les ressources minérales s’épuisent inexorablement, les minerais riches sont de plus en plus difficilement accessibles, et le traitement des minerais implique d’importants impacts environnementaux. En Nouvelle-Calédonie, l’extraction du nickel nécessite la destruction de l’horizon fertile supérieur des sols, et les mines se présentent comme des carrières à ciel ouvert, soumises à l’érosion et menaçant la biodiversité du territoire. Bien que l’exploitation du nickel soit au cœur de l’économie locale, la réhabilitation écologique des sites miniers, et la réintroduction durable d’un couvert végétal sont une nécessité.Le laboratoire ChimEco a démontré qu’il était possible de revégétaliser les sites miniers en réintroduisant des espèces végétales pionnières, résistantes et accumulatrices de manganèse. Ces plantes accumulatrices sont capables d’extraire le manganèse naturellement présent dans le sol et de l’accumuler dans leurs parties aériennes : on parle de phytoextraction. Le laboratoire ChimEco propose en outre une valorisation scientifique et à terme économique des efforts de réhabilitation engagés sur le terrain. En effet, à partir de la biomasse riche en manganèse des plantes accumulatrices, le laboratoire ChimEco a développé un procédé innovant de recyclage des éléments métalliques d’origine végétale en catalyseurs polymétalliques pour la chimie. Il s’agit de l’Ecocatalyse. Ces écocatalyseurs riches en Mn, notés Eco-Mn, ont montré une activité catalytique intéressante dans plusieurs synthèses organiques.Les résultats obtenus en écologie et en chimie par le laboratoire ChimEco prouvent la nécessité d’étudier finement la structure des écocatalyseurs en les considérant comme des matériaux innovants, afin de comprendre et d’améliorer leur activité en synthèse organique, et d’exploiter au mieux les possibilités du procédé. C’est précisément dans ce contexte que s’inscrivent ces travaux de thèse.Plusieurs techniques d’analyse ont été utilisées. Les analyses ICP-MS ont permis de déterminer la composition élémentaire des Eco-Mn. La DRX a permis de mettre en évidence la présence de sels mixtes originaux tels que K3NaMnCl6 sous forme cristalline dans les Eco-Mn. Enfin l’absorption des rayons X a permis de déterminer la nature des espèces présentes dans les catalyseurs, ainsi que le degré d’oxydation du manganèse et du fer. En outre, l’étude du réarrangement d’un acétal cyclique, ainsi que le suivi de la désorption de la pyridine à la surface des Eco-Mn, ont été utilisés pour étudier les propriétés acides des écocatalyseurs. Ces analyses ont permis de répondre à deux objectifs précis : d’une part déterminer la nature des complexes qui composent les Eco-Mn, et d’autre part, mieux comprendre les propriétés physico-chimiques de ces catalyseurs, leur degré d’oxydation et leurs propriétés acides. Ces analyses ont également permis de mieux appréhender les deux étapes du procédé de synthèse des Eco-Mn. Enfin, des catalyseurs synthétiques et témoins ont également été produits et étudiés dans les mêmes conditions d’analyse que les Eco-Mn, dans le but de déterminer si les Eco-Mn ont une spécificité et une empreinte végétale. / Mineral resources are running out, ores are hardly accessible, and ores processing damage the environment. In New-Caledonia, nickel ores mining requires to remove all the upper layers of the ground, leading to open-cast mines subjected to erosion, which threaten the environment and the biodiversity of the archipelago. Although mining ores exploitation is important for the economy of New-Caledonia, the ecological remediation of mining areas through the restoration of a vegetation cover, are necessary.ChimEco laboratory has demonstrated that it is possible to reintroduce pioneering endemic plant species, which are resistant to climate conditions and accumulate manganese, to restore New-Caledonian mining sites. These accumulating plants extract Mn from the ground to their aerial parts: it is called phytoextraction. Besides, ChimEco laboratory puts forward a new scientific and economic valorisation of phytoremediation efforts in New-Caledonia. Indeed, an innovative process has been developed to recycle metallic elements from manganese enriched biomass into innovative and polymetallic catalysts for organic synthesis. This new process is called Ecocatalysis. Ecocatalysts enriched in manganese, Eco-Mn, have demonstrated interesting and promising catalytic activities in several reactions.Regarding the good results achieved by ChimEco in ecology and in chemistry with accumulating plants and resulting Eco-Mn, it is necessary to better and precisely characterise Eco-Mn catalysts, by considering them as innovative materials, in order to understand and foresee their catalytic activity. This PhD work belongs within this context.Several analyses have been performed to characterise Eco-Mn catalysts. First, ICP-MS enables to identify metallic composition of Eco-Mn. Besides, XRD analyses highlight the presence of complex crystallized manganese salts, like K3NaMnCl6. Finally, X-ray absorption spectroscopy enables us to study the nature of manganese species which compose Eco-Mn catalysts, and to understand the oxidation states of Mn and Fe. Moreover, acid properties of Eco-Mn were demonstrated thanks to the study of a cyclic acetal rearrangement and infra-red spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine. All these analyses were performed in order to determine first the composition of Eco-Mn catalysts, and secondly to highlight their physico-chemical properties, their oxidation state and their acid properties. Furthermore, this study also enable us to better understand the different steps of the ecocatalysts production process. Finally, synthetic catalysts were also produced and analysed in the same conditions as Eco-Mn, in order to bring out the specificities of Eco-Mn.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 curcio_al_me_rcla.pdf: 1672370 bytes, checksum: fd59b862449a04ac385f3661da6430f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Nanocristais tem sido extensivamente investigados nos últimos anos devido à sua ampla gama de aplicações em vários dispositivos tais como sensores, células solares, lasers, fotocatalisadores, fotodetectores, detectores de infravermelhos, diodos emissores de luz, materiais eletroluminescentes e outros materiais emissores de luz. Semicondutores nanocristalinos apresentam propriedades eletrônicas intermediárias entre aqueles de estrutura molecular e sólidos macrocristalinos, proporcionando uma ampla gama de aplicações. Entre estes materiais, o sulfeto de zinco (ZnS) puro ou dopado tem recebido notável atenção por causa de suas propriedades estruturais ópticas, versatilidade e potencial para várias aplicações tecnológicas. O ZnS é um típico semicondutor II-VI, com um gap direto de 3,6 eV à temperatura ambiente e aproximadamente 40 meV de energia de gap, sendo um bom material luminescente utilizado em telas, sensores e lasers. Como material de gap largo, o ZnS pode facilmente hospedar diferentes metais de transição como centros luminescentes. Entre estes íons de metais de transição para estruturas dopadas, os íons Cu2+e Mn2+ são atraentes pelas emissões de luz características e por apresentarem propriedades eficientes para aplicações como luminóforos. A inserção desses íons na estrutura do ZnS proporcionam defeitos que resultam em emissão no verde para os íons Cu2+e emissão no laranja para os íons Mn2+. Neste estudo, as amostras de ZnS pura e dopadas com Cu2+ e Mn2+ foram preparados pelo método solvotermal, que demonstra ser um processo eficaz para preparar nanopartículas. Uma vez preparadas, as estruturas das amostras nanoestruturadas foram caracterizadas e correlacionada s com propriedades fotoluminescentes. Os resultados de difração de raios X mostram que as amostras de ZnS foram cristalizadas completamente sem a presença de fases secundárias e os difratogramas correspondem à estrutura blenda cúbica de zinco com grupo espacial F-43m. Os espectros de XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) teóricos e experimentais na borda K do Zn indicam que a incorporação de átomos de Mn na matriz ZnS causam a formação de vacâncias de Zn e S, a qual é confirmada por ajustes de espectros EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure). Estas vacâncias estão relacionadas com um desvio para o vermelho observado no pico do espectro de fotoluminescência devido a adição de Mn na estrutura do ZnS. Para o ZnS puro, o pico é centrado em ~ 504 nm, relativo as vacâncias de S na amostra nanoestruturada. À medida que se aumenta a porcentagem de Mn na matriz ZnS, uma emissão no amarelo-laranja centrada em ~ 590 nm pode ser observada, associada com a transição 4T1-6A1 no interior de níveis 3d de Mn2+. A adição de íons Cu2+ ao ZnS resulta em um alargamento no pico do espectro de fotoluminescência decorrente de emissão no azul-verde, que está relacionada a recombinação de elétrons de níveis de defeitos mais profundos dos estados t2 do Cu próximos da banda de valência. / Nanocrystals has been extensively investigated in recent years due to its wide range of applications in various devices light emitting materials such as sensors, solar cells, lasers, photocatalysts, photodetectors, IR detectors, light emitting diodes and others. Nanocrystalline Semiconductors have electronic properties between those intermediate molecular macrocristalinos and solid structure, providing a wide range of applications. Among these materials, zinc sulfide (ZnS) pure or doped has received considerable attention because of its optical structural properties, versatility and potential for several technological applications. The ZnS is a typical II-VI semiconductor with a direct band gap of 3.6 eV at room temperature and about 40 meV in energy gap, and a good luminescent material for constrution of displays, lasers and sensors. As wide band gap material, ZnS can easily host different transition metals as luminescent centers. Among these ions of transition metal doped structures, Cu2+ and Mn2+ ions are attractive for light emission characteristics and for having effective properties for applications such as phosphors. The addition of these ions in ZnS structure provide defects that result in emission in the green for the Cu2+ ions and emission in orange for the Mn2+ ions. In this study, samples of pure ZnS and doped with Cu2+ and Mn2+ ions were prepared by solvotermal method, which demonstrate to be an effective process for preparing nanoparticles. Once prepared, the structures of the nanostructured samples were characterized and correlated with photoluminescent properties. The results of X-ray diffraction showed that the ZnS samples were completely crystallized without the presence of secondary phases and XRD patterns correspond to the structure of zinc blende to cubic space group F-43m. spectra XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) theoretical and experimental in the Zn K edge indicates that the inclusion of Mn atoms in the ZnS matrix cause the formation of Zn and S vacancies, which is confirmed by spectral adjustments EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure). These vacancies are associated with a red shift observed in the photoluminescence spectrum peak due to the addition of Mn in ZnS structure. For pure ZnS, the peak is centered at ~ 504 nm concerning the vacancies in the S nanostructured sample. As it increases the percentage of Mn in the ZnS matrix, in yellow-orange emission centered at ~ 590 nm can be observed, associated with the transition 4 T1- 6A1 inside 3d levels of Mn2+. Adding Cu2+ to the ZnS results in a broadening of the peak of the photoluminescence spectrum due to emission in blue-green, which is related to recombination deeper defect levels of electrons of t2 Cu states near the valence band.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo das propriedades elétricas e estruturais das amostras cerâmicas pertencentes ao sistema Ba1-xRxTi1-yZryO3 (R=Ca,Sr). As amostras na forma de pó micro ou nanoestruturadas foram respectivamente obtidas através do método de mistura de óxidos e do método dos precursores poliméricos. Amostras cerâmicas apresentando grãos em uma escala micrométrica foram obtidas através do método tradicional de sinterização em alta temperatura enquanto amostras cerâmicas nanoestruturadas foram obtidas através da técnica de sinterização por plasma (Spark plasma Sintering ou SPS). Os resultados obtidos através da técnica de espectroscopia de impedância mostraram que com o aumento da quantidade de Zr na matriz as amostras passam de um estado ferroelétrico normal para um estado ferroelétrico relaxor e que este efeito é mais pronunciado nas amostras contendo cálcio. A partir dos resultados da difração de raios X em alta resolução, foi possível determinar os processos de transição de fase em função da substituição dos átomos de Ti por Zr além de identificar um processo de transição de fase espontânea na amostra contendo cálcio e 18 mol % de zircônia. Através das medidas do espectro de absorção de raios X e do espectro Raman foi possível mostrar que, independente da composição e da estrutura a longa distancia, apresentam certo grau de desordem local e que esta desordem local está principalmente associada ao fato do átomo de titânio estar fora de sua posição centro simétrica no octaedro TiO6 e que está desordem é comparável a observada no composto BaTiO3 tetragonal. A desordem química devido ao aumento da quantidade de átomos de Zr na matriz associada a esta desordem local levam ao aparecimento do estado relaxor. Finalmente, o estudo das amostras preparadas por SPS mostraram que é possível obter amostras de composição BaTi0,80Zr0,20O3 apresentando uma alta densidade e tamanho de grão nanométrico. Os resultados da espectroscopia de impedância destas amostras mostraram devido ao pequeno deslocamento da temperatura de máximo e do alargamento da curva de permissividade com a diminuição do tamanho de grão, não foi possível classificar essa amostra como apresentando um comportamento típico de um material ferroelétrico relaxor. / This work aimed to study the structural and electrical properties of ceramic samples belonging to the Ba1-xRxTi1-yZryO3 (R = Ca, Sr) system. The powder samples presenting a micro or nanosize were respectively obtained by using a mixture of oxides and by the modified polymeric precursor methods. Micrometer scale ceramic samples were obtained through the traditional method of sintering at high temperature while nano-sized particles ceramics were obtained using the spark Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique. The results obtained using the technique of impedance spectroscopy showed that with an increasing amount of Zr in the matrix, samples change from a normal ferroelectric state to a relaxor ferroelectric state and that this effect is more pronounced in samples containing calcium. From the results of high resolution X-ray diffraction technique, it was possible to determine the phase transition processes due to the substitution of Ti atoms by Zr and, in addition, identify a process of spontaneous phase transition in the sample containing calcium and 18 mol% of zirconium. From the measurements of X-ray absorption Spectroscopy and Raman spectra it was possible to show that regardless of the composition and structure of long range order, the samples have some degree of local disorder and that this local disorder is primarily associated with the fact that the titanium atom being out of its symmetrical center position in the octahedron and is TiO6 disordered. This is comparable to the distorsion observed in tetragonal BaTiO3 sample. The chemical disorder due to the increase of Zr atoms in the matrix associated with this disorder is responsible of the occurrence of relaxor state. Finally, the study of samples prepared by SPS showed that it is possible to obtain samples with BaTi0,80Zr0,20O3 composition with a high-density and nanometeric grain size. The results of impedance spectroscopy on these samples show a small shift of the maximum temperature and a slight broadening of the permittivity curve with decreasing grain size. However, this result does not allowed to classify the samples as having a typical relaxor ferroelectric material behavior.

Transition-metal oxides (TMOs) display numerous fascinating and complex properties, such as mixed-valency, low dimensionality, lattice distortion, and phase transition, etc. These properties arise from the partially filled d- or f-electron shells of TM cations and are often accompanied by the intriguing interplay between degrees of freedom. To understand the complexity of d-electron TMOs, this thesis is primarily focused on studying their underlying electronic structure using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS). The measurements at the O K- and TM L-edges are achieved by taking advantage of high-flux and high-resolution synchrotron radiation light with tunable monochromatic photon energy. Four electronically and structurally distinctive oxides are selected as representative TMOs for investigation in this thesis. To begin with, through a comparative study of WO3 and Na0.67WO3 crystals, the narrowing of the conduction band is observed with Na doping and the core-hole energy shift in the O K-edge XAS process is experimentally determined. Indirect and direct band gaps of photoanode WO3 are measured from the resonant XES with polarization-dependent experimental geometry. The other sodium bronze studied is quasi-one-dimensional β-Na0.33V2O5 polycrystalline film. The film stoichiometry, preferential orientation, and orbital anisotropy are well characterized by a variety of photon and electron techniques and compared to density-functional theory (DFT) calculation. The V 3d orbital splitting of β-Na0.33V2O5 is surveyed by the V L-edge RIXS and compared with isoelectronic β-Sr0.17V2O5 regarding distortions to VO6 octahedra. Furthermore, the complex electronic structure of Mott insulators La1-xLuxVO3 is investigated to understand their spin-orbital phase diagram. The effects of rare-earth size on the O 2p hybridization states and the local crystal field of VO6 octahedron are found to agree with the prediction of DFT calculation and the evolution of crystal structure. The changes of experimental spectra with temperature are associated with Jahn-Teller distortion and orbital ordering due to structural phase transition. Lastly, the band structure and low-energy excitations of spinel MnV2O4 are explored using soft x-ray spectroscopies and theoretical calculations. The presence of Hubbard bands and the mixing between V and Mn 3d states are suggested both experimentally and theoretically.