Optimizing Structural, Optical and Photovoltaic Properties of Cobalt Spinel Ferrite with Cerium Substitution: Implications for Next-Generation Solar Cells
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Abstract
The growing demand for sustainable and efficient energy solutions has driven research into advanced materials for next-generation solar cells. This study investigates the effects of cerium (Ce) substitution on the structural, optical, and photovoltaic properties of cobalt spinel ferrite (CoFe₂O₄), a material known for its favorable magnetic and semiconducting properties. The advantages of CoFe2O4 for fabricating efficient photovoltaic devices are investigated in this work Cerium substituted Cobalt ferrites, CexCoFe2-xO4; (x=0,0.02,0.04,0.06,0.08,0.1) were successfully synthesized using microwave-assisted sol-gel technique. Detailed structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed changes in crystallite size, lattice parameters, and morphology due to cerium substitution. It is noted that the crystallite size decreases ranging from 24nm to 21nm with Ce concentration having a spinel structure. Optical properties were analyzed through UV-vis spectroscopy, indicating tuning of the bandgap, which is crucial for improving light absorption in the visible region. The results suggest that the CoFe2O4 possesses significant photovoltaic property under direct sunlight. The EDAX study confirms the absence of impurities. The bonding Formation of CoFe₂O₄ was studied by FTIR. The photovoltaic properties were further analysed by current-voltage (I-V) measurements under direct sunlight. The results highlight the potential of Ce-substituted cobalt ferrite as a promising material for improving the efficiency of solar energy devices, paving the way for its application in future photovoltaic technologies.
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