Impact of Shock Compression on the Photovoltaic Performance of NiCo₂O₄ Nanoparticles

Spherical-shaped nickel cobaltite (NC) nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple sol-gel technique and calcined at 600°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed significant changes in crystallite size, with an average of 23 nm for the control sample and variations observed after 50 shockwaves. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed metal-oxygen stretching, indicating structural integrity. UV-visible absorption studies showed changes in the optical band gap, which increased after shock treatments, suggesting bandgap tunability for optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications. The material exhibited good optical absorption up to 600 nm, making it suitable for light-harvesting devices. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) detected shifts in dipole moments and magnetic saturation, with all samples displaying paramagnetic behavior. The shock-treated samples showed enhanced magnetic properties, which could be useful in magnetic storage devices. The combined tunability of bandgap and magnetic properties via shock wave treatment underscores the potential of these nanoparticles for applications in photovoltaics, spintronics, and energy storage systems.