A DFT study of (La2O3)n clusters and effect of Ba, Y and Hf doping for their optoelectronic applications

Abstract

( La 2 O 3 ) n (n=1-5) clusters have been computationally studied using DFT and TDDFT with B3LYP functional under hybrid GGA approximation and LANL2DZ basis set. The doping effect of various elements like Ba, Y and Hf on the structural, electronic and non-linear optical (NLO) properties of ( La 2 O 3 ) n clusters has been studied for finding their optoelectronic applications. Different optimised geometries of ( La 2 O 3 ) n and Ba, Y and Hf doped ( La 2 O 3 ) n clusters have been obtained. HOMO-LUMO gap ( Δ E ) and chemical hardness (τ) of ( La 2 O 3 ) n clusters decreases significantly with doping of Ba, Y and Hf atoms making these clusters very reactive. Refractive index and the absorption in UV–VIS region of electromagnetic spectra of Ba, Y and Hf doped ( La 2 O 3 ) n clusters increases as compared to ( La 2 O 3 ) n clusters making these clusters suitable to be used as additives in the manufacturing of various types of glasses. Also, dielectric constant (ϵ) of Ba, Y and Hf doped ( La 2 O 3 ) n clusters increases finding their applications to be used in the oxide layer of MOSFETs.