Abstract

Nanoparticles of manganese oxide La0.8MnO2.8 were synthesized by the sol-gel method, the oxygen deficiency is created in a controlled manner. The X-ray diffraction measurement proves a coexistence of a minor Pnma orthorhombic phase and a major 3Rc rhombohedral one. The magnetic measurement indicates presents a magnetic transition from a ferromagnetic order to a paramagnetic one at T=232K. In the basis of experimental and the Density Functional Theory (DFT) study, we predicted that the La0.8MnO2.8 nanoparticles can be considered as a promising solar cell absorber. In fact, DFT calculation proved that this material has a large value of absorption coefficient with a small bandgap Eg=1.5eV, which is very close to that of some conventional photovoltaic materials such as Si, CH3NH3PbI3, etc. In addition, the result predicts that this material can be considered a potential candidate in photovoltaic applications.

Keywords: Manganite; Oxygen deficiency; Photovoltaic applications; Transport properties