  The electronic structure of double perovskite Pr2MnNiO6 is studied using core
x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The 2p
x-ray absorption spectra show that Mn and Ni are in 2+ and 4+ states
respectively. Using charge transfer multiplet analysis of Ni and Mn 2p XPS
spectra, we find charge transfer energies {\Delta} of 3.5 and 2.5 eV for Ni and
Mn respectively. The ground state of Ni2+ and Mn4+ reveal a higher d electron
count of 8.21 and 3.38 respectively as compared to the atomic values of 8.00
and 3.00 respectively thereby indicating the covalent nature of the system. The
O 1s edge absorption spectra reveal a band gap of 0.9 eV which is comparable to
the value obtained from first principle calculations for U-J >= 2 eV. The
density of states clearly reveal a strong p-d type charge transfer character of
the system, with band gap proportional to average charge transfer energy of
Ni2+ and Mn4+ ions.
