Photovoltaic effect in transition metal modified polycrystalline BiFeO3 thin films

Abstract

We report photovoltaic (PV) effect in multiferroic Bi0.9Sm0.1Fe0.95Co0.05O3 (BSFCO) thin films. Transition metal modified polycrystalline BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films have been deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrate successfully through pulsed laser deposition (PLD). PV response is observed under illumination both in sandwich and lateral electrode configurations. The open-circuit voltage (V-oc) and the short-circuit current density (J(sc)) of the films in sandwich electrode configuration under illumination are measured to be 0.9 V and -0.051 mu A cm(-2). Additionally, we report piezoresponse for BSFCO films, which confirms ferroelectric piezoelectric behaviour.