Influence of Cr Doping on Structural, Optical, and Photovoltaic Properties of BiFeO3 Synthesized by Sol-Gel Method

In this work, pure BiFeO3 and samples doped with different concentrations of chromium were synthesized to improve the optical properties efficiency solar cells based on BiFeO3. The sol-gel method was used for synthesis due its ability produce nanostructured materials high purity good homogeneity, as well possibility controlling size shape resulting particles. characterized by analytical techniques. Thermal analysis results indicate that dopant increases weight loss sample from 61 81%, an increase in exothermal nucleation crystallization temperature range. X-ray diffraction patterns UV-visible spectra show a dependence crystallite bandgap respect amount Cr dopant, decreasing 168 73 nm 2.14 1.92 eV, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images display grain result increasing dopant. I-V 1% Cr-doped photovoltaic device exhibits enhanced performance higher photocurrent 4.17 times greater energy conversion compared device. For their behavior, BiFeO3-based photoelectrodes are very promising devices.