A theoretical study of new polar and magnetic double perovskites for photovoltaic applications

Abstract

Searching for novel functional materials has attracted significant interest for the breakthrough in photovoltaics to tackle the prevalent energy crisis. Through density functional theory calculations, we evaluate the structural, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of new double perovskites Sn₂MnTaO₆ and Sn₂FeTaO₆ for potential photovoltaic applications. Our structural optimizations reveal a non-centrosymmetric distorted triclinic structure for the compounds. Using total energy calculations, antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic orderings are predicted as the magnetic ground states for Sn₂MnTaO₆ and Sn₂FeTaO₆, respectively. The empty d orbitals of Ta⁵⁺-3d⁰ and partially filled d orbitals of Mn/Fe are the origins of ferroelectricity and magnetism in these double perovskites resulting in the potential multiferroicity. The studied double perovskites have semiconducting nature and possess narrow band gaps of approximately 1 eV. The absorption coefficient (α) calculations showed that the value of α in the visible region is in the order of 10⁵ cm⁻¹. The structural stability, suitable band gap, and high absorption coefficient values of proposed compounds suggest they could be good candidates for photovoltaic applications.