Improved photovoltaic performance from inorganic perovskite oxide thin films with mixed crystal phases

Chakrabartty, Joyprokash; Harnagea, Cătălin; Çelikin, Mert; Rosei, Federico; Nechache, Riad

doi:10.1038/s41566-018-0137-0

Cited by 93 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…They either have strong ferroelectricity, which is preferred for good piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity, but a wide E g beyond the visible‐range, or the E g engineering considerably degrades the ferroelectricity. Although the photovoltaic effect may be independent of the direction of the P r , it is largely affected by the magnitude of the P r . Considering the importance of the E g as mentioned above, the co‐existence of strong ferroelectricity and a narrow E g is essential for the development of photoferroelectrics either for solar energy conversion or multi‐source energy harvesting/sensing applications.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Nevertheless, photoferroelectrics have re‐attracted attention in recent years thanks to the achievement of 10 −2 level efficiencies, largely reduced E g to cover the entire visible range (as low as 1.1 eV, comparable with that of Si), and the adoption of other practical methods to significantly improve the photovoltaic performance. In particular, the recent second‐round bloom of photoferroelectric research is attributed to the further exploration of BPVE.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Ferroelectric Oxides for Solar Energy Conversion, Multi‐Source Energy Harvesting/Sensing, and Opto‐Ferroelectric Applications

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Photoferroelectrics belong to a unique material family that exhibits both photovoltaic and ferroelectric effects simultaneously. The photovoltaic effect is the only known direct method of converting light into electricity and is the basis of solar cells. The ferroelectric effect can induce piezoelectric and pyroelectric effects, which are the working principles of widely used kinetic and thermal sensors, transducers, actuators, and energy harvesters. For a long time, photoferroelectric research was restricted to theoretical investigations only because of either the wide band gap ( E g ), which is not able to effectively absorb visible light, or to the weak ferroelectricity caused by a narrow E g . Recent scientific breakthroughs, however, have opened doors for the development of practical applications. In this article, emerging concepts of creating balanced photovoltaic and ferroelectric properties for photoferroelectrics, as well as those of novel applications in future devices, are presented.

show abstract

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ferroelectric Oxides for Solar Energy Conversion, Multi‐Source Energy Harvesting/Sensing, and Opto‐Ferroelectric Applications

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Besides BFO-based materials, other possible photoferroic materials with appropriate band gaps include [43], Bi 2 ZnTiO 6 , [44] hexagonal ferrite (h-RFeO 3 , R=Y, Dy-Lu) thin films [45], Ni-doped SrBi 2 Nb 2 O 9 [46], and composite thin films of mixed BiMnO 3 and BiMn 2 O 5 [47].…”

Section: Recent Experimental Progressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards photoferroic materials by design: recent progress and perspectives

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of photoferroic materials that combine ferroelectric and light-harvesting properties in a photovoltaic device is a promising route to significantly improving the efficiency of solar cells. These materials do not require the formation of a p−n junction and can produce photovoltages well above the value of the band gap, because of spontaneous intrinsic polarization and the formation of domain walls. From this perspective, we discuss the recent experimental progress and challenges regarding the synthesis of these materials and the theoretical discovery of novel photoferroic materials using a highthroughput approach.

show abstract

“…Fundamental understanding of this mechanism is likely to offer new device prospects especially in optoelectronics and information storage . It is to be noted that the photovoltaic effect in ferroelectrics is well known since the 1960s and has been investigated for the optical reading of ferroelectric random‐access memories, photodiodes, and photovoltaic applications. Current research is focused on developing band‐gap tuned ferroelectric materials as their performance is restricted by low mobility of charge carriers and short diffusion lengths .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optical Control of Ferroelectric Domains: Nanoscale Insight into Macroscopic Observations

Vats

Bai

Zhang

et al. 2019

Advanced Optical Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

has been investigated for the optical reading of ferroelectric random-access memories, [14,15] photodiodes, [16] and photovoltaic [4,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23] applications. Current research is focused on developing band-gap tuned ferroelectric materials as their performance is restricted by low mobility of charge carriers and short diffusion lengths. [24][25][26] Band-gap tuned ferroelectric materials are capable of hosting multiple functionalities (due to ferroelectricity and semiconducting features), which suggest the possibilities of multiple energy conversions (piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and photovoltaic) simultaneously. In this context, Bai et al. synthesized a novel band-gap (1.6 eV down from >4 eV) engineered lead-free ferroelectric composition, i.e. (K 0.5 Na 0.5 )NbO 3 -2 mol% Ba(Ni 0.5 Nb 0.5 )O 3−δ (KNBNNO or KNN-BNNO), and demonstrated multiple functionalities (piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and photovoltaic effects) and their cumulative effect using this single material. [27][28][29] (K 0.5 Na 0.5 )NbO 3 supports off-center distortion and is responsible for ferroelectric nature of KNN-BNNO while Ba(Ni 0.5 Nb 0.5 ) O 3−δ controls the electronic states in the gap of parent (K 0.5 Na 0.5 ) NbO 3 using oxygen vacancies and Ni +2 ions. [24] Simultaneous presence of ferroelectric and semiconducting features makes this composition alluring for photovoltaic applications. In addition, it also provides an opportunity to understand how ferroelectric properties in semiconductors could help in improving the photovoltaic response and vice versa. In this context, the present study aims to provide an insight into light-induced changes in the ferroelectric behavior of KNN-BNNO. Recent demonstration of light-driven switching of nanodomains in (K 0.5 Na 0.5 )NbO 3 also makes it interesting to further explore KNN-BNNO. [30] Light-induced changes in ferroelectrics could persist due to a number of reasons such as (i) localized heating assisted diffusion of alkali element (as in LiNbO 3 ) and oxygen vacancies, [31] (ii) change in oxidation state of the central atom (e.g., in BaTiO 3 ), [32] and (iii) Jahn-Teller distortions due to light-induced pyroelectric current or charge injection in the conduction band (as in SbSI). [7,13] Warren et al. suggested that similar to electrical and thermal fluctuations, an exposure to light involves "locking domains by electronic charge trapping at domain boundaries." [1] Any change in the macroscopic behavior could be attributed to nanoscale changes in the ferroelectric domains. Moreover, Domain wall nanoelectronics constitutes a potential paradigm shift for nextgeneration energy conversion and von-Neumann devices. In this context, attempts have been made to achieve energy-efficient control over ferromagnetic, ferroelectric, and ferroelastic domain walls through electric and magnetic fields or applied stress. However, optical control of ferroic domains offers an additional degree of freedom and significant advantages of reduced hysteresis and Joule heating losses, creating novel opport...

show abstract

Improved photovoltaic performance from inorganic perovskite oxide thin films with mixed crystal phases

Cited by 93 publications

References 34 publications

Ferroelectric Oxides for Solar Energy Conversion, Multi‐Source Energy Harvesting/Sensing, and Opto‐Ferroelectric Applications

Ferroelectric Oxides for Solar Energy Conversion, Multi‐Source Energy Harvesting/Sensing, and Opto‐Ferroelectric Applications

Towards photoferroic materials by design: recent progress and perspectives

Optical Control of Ferroelectric Domains: Nanoscale Insight into Macroscopic Observations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About