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 °C and 850 °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.