Seuils d'absorption des rayons X : Un outil de caractérisation indispensable en chimie de coordination

Synchrotron radiation allows to perform spectroscopic experiments in an energy range from infra-red to hard X-rays. The paper shows, through particular examples (role of the geometry, of the oxidation and spin state of the absorber ...) how it is possible to extract unique informations from X-ray absorption edges to characterize the electronic structure of the absorbing elements whatever the state of the sample (crystalline, amorphous, liquid, solution, gaseous). The interpretation of the data is proposed at a double level : qualitative, thanks to symmetry theory and more quantitative, thanks to quantum calculations.