Unlocking the power of Zn-substituted barium ferrite (BaFe2O4) nanoparticles for unprecedented magnetic, dielectric, and optical enhancement for photovoltaic devices

Abstract

The existing problem of photovoltaics (PV) seeks new efficient materials that can feed to the next level solar power generation under access universally. This study proposed the magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) of barium mono ferrite BaFe₂O₄ with transition metal Zn, nominated for its electrical properties to explore incorporation’s effect on structural, physicochemical, and magnetic properties to develop the dynamics of charge carriers, stability, and possibly tackling the need of new competent materials for PV technology. ZnO nanoparticles are widely used in solar cells with wide band gap (3.1 eV to 3.37 eV), an optimized value as low as 1.35 eV was successfully achieved in the present work. BaFe₂O₄ NPs exposing orthorhombic system for photovoltaic application was surveyed for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The nanoparticles of Ba_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5) scheme have been prepared by the sol–gel auto-combustion method. An inclusive structural examination has been executed for prepared samples by X-ray diffraction and RAMAN study. The rarely found orthorhombic crystal system with Pnma-62 was identified and a 3D visualization was drawn for the first time for BaFe₂O₄. The magnetic, dielectric, photovoltaic (PV), and optical properties using Vibrating sample magnetometer, Impedance Analyzer, Fluorescence spectrophotometer, and UV Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy correspondingly were also explored. The effectively aimed composition (Ba_0.8Zn_0.2Fe₂O₄, Ba_0.7Zn_0.3Fe₂O₄, and Ba_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄) revealing spherical NPs and the chemical bonds were verified by Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer individually. Zn_x = 0.3 sample showed maximum magnetization of 15.3 emu/g with responsive polarization. The similar sample’s photocurrent increased when it was illuminated, as per photovoltaic data of current–voltage curves measured by Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The energy band gaps for pristine sample decreased from 1.51 to 1.35 eV for Zn_x = 0.3, which was closer to a theoretical optimum band gap value of about 1.4 eV for PV cells. The photoluminescence emission also lied in the visible range 607 nm. A concept for the use of magnetic NPs in PV devices was offered by valuable optical, magnetic, and photovoltaic capabilities cooperating well in the improvement of the outcome and expresses the importance of barium mono ferrite nanoparticles for aimed application.