Synthesis and characterizations of LaMnO3 perovskite powders using sol-gel method

The present research demonstrates the synthesis and characterization of LaMnO3 perovskite powders using the sol-gel technique for solar cell applications. With this respect, LaMnO3 powders were synthesized at two different annealing temperatures by the sol-gel method using La- and Mn-based precursors. Thermal, structural, microstructural, optical and magnetic properties of the powders were characterized through differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry (DTA-TG), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Malvern zeta sizer (PSD), UV-Vis spectrometer and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). LaMnO3 was synthesized successfully at 500 degrees C and 850 degrees C synthesis temperatures, and the bandgap was determined as 1.27 eV for both. The analysis revealed that magnetic properties, crystalline and particle sizes change according to the heat of synthesis. The obtained results indicate promise, especially the low bandgap, that LaMnO3 powders can be used in solar cell applications and can positively affect performance and efficiency