An investigation of the correlation between the photovoltaic, magnetic and optical properties of CoCr2O4 due to the doping effect of rare-earth La3+ions

Abstract

In the new approach, undoped and (0.1,0.3, and 0.5) La3+doped CoCr2O4 samples were prepared using microwave combustion methods. The Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are used to characterize the material's surface morphology and for phase identification and crystallinity. The samples were also studied with a UV–visible, diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS) and a (VSM) Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. Spherical particles in agglomeration are visible in the TEM images. The average crystal size is about 15 - 43 nm was observed from the X-ray diffraction pattern results, and it was also confirmed that a cubic spinel structure existed. In addition to providing insight into the divalent and trivalent metal cation distributions at the A and B sites of the chromite lattice, XRD data also revealed divalent and trivalent metal cations distributions. Increased La content results in a decrease in estimated band gap energy. An increasing trend with increasing in La concentration resulting from cation rearrangement. Because La3+replaces some Cr ions in octahedral sites of cobalt chromite, there is a variation in its magnetic parameters.

Keywords

• Defects
• Solar cell
• Microwave combustion
• Optical
• Magnetic properties