Structural and optical properties of (1 − x)ZnMn2O4/xPbS nanocomposites

(1 − x)ZnMn₂O₄ (ZMO)/xPbS (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) nanocomposite samples were developed using the sol–gel and thermolysis methods. Rietveld analysis was applied to unveil the formed phases in each sample, their percentage, the crystallite size, and cation distribution between different crystallographic sites. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis unveiled that part of Pb and S ions are integrated into the ZMO lattice forming a solid solution. The effect of alloying of ZMO, PbS and PbSO₄ phases on the absorbance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, dielectric characteristics and non-linear optical parameters was investigated using UV-diffused absorbance technique. The determined direct optical energy gap for ZMO is 2.49 eV, whereas when PbS and PbSO₄ phases were composed with ZMO, two bandgaps were appeared at (1.64, 2.46) and (1.66, 2.47) eV for 10 and 20% PbS in the nanocomposite samples, respectively. The effect of the formed phases on the emitted colors and their intensity was studied using photoluminescence technique.