Modulating opto‐electronic and magnetic responses of Mo‐ and Zn‐adsorbed LiNbO3 (1 1 1) surface for advanced energy harvesting applications: A comprehensive study

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to comprehensively investigate the optoelectronic and magnetic properties of Mo, Zn/LiNbO3 (1 1 1) material. The primary objectives were to understand the potential for manipulating the material's magnetism and to elucidate the origin of spin‐polarized states and magnetic moments, particularly with respect to the unpaired d orbitals of Nb, Mo, and Zn atoms. To achieve these objectives, we employed the Pardew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) method within the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA + U) framework. This computational approach allowed us to examine the optoelectronic and magnetic characteristics of the material in detail. Our research yielded several key findings that enhance our understanding of Mo, Zn/LiNbO3 (1 1 1) material. We observed a modest improvement in the material's absorption capacity within the visible spectrum, accompanied by a discernible red‐shift. Notably, our study involved the calculation of the dielectric function and refractive constant of the material, revealing a strong correlation between absorption trends and the dielectric constant. Furthermore, our investigation uncovered that Mo, Zn/LiNbO3 (1 1 1) exhibits distinct conduction and valence bands, with p and d orbitals predominantly contributing to each, respectively. The energy gap of the material falls within a range of 0.30–1.04 eV. A particularly significant finding was the narrower band gap of Mo, Zn/LiNbO3 (1 1 1) material, which can be attributed to the superposition of Mo‐d and Zn‐p orbit energy levels with O‐p orbit energy levels, ultimately forming a covalent bond. Importantly, our research demonstrated the material's heightened optical absorption within the visible spectrum, suggesting its suitability for various photonic and optoelectronic applications. Additionally, we calculated a wide range of optical characteristics, including the dielectric function, absorption coefficient, energy loss, reflectivity, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical conductivity, providing a comprehensive assessment of the material's optical properties.