Photovoltaic mechanisms in ferroelectric thin films with the effects of the electrodes and interfaces

Abstract

It was discovered that the dielectric constant of the electrodes substantially determines the photovoltaic output in (Pb0.97 La 0.03) (Zr0.52 Ti0.48) O3 ferroelectric thin films. With the screening charges distributed extensively away from the electrode interfaces, the use of the electrodes with a high dielectric constant gives rise to dramatically enhanced magnitude of photocurrent in photovoltaic thin films, and extremely high photovoltaic efficiency is theoretically predicted to be possible in ferroelectric ultrathin films or nanostructures. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.