Resistance switching and white-light photovoltaic effects in BiFeO3/Nb–SrTiO3 heterojunctions

Abstract

BiFeO 3 / Nb – SrTiO 3 heterojunctions with room-temperature resistance switching (RS) and white-light photovoltaic (PV) effects were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition. The current-voltage characteristics of these heterojunctions show a good rectifying property with a large rectifying ratio of 104. Nonvolatile bipolar RS effect was observed with an ON/OFF-state current ratio of about 102. The heterojunctions also exhibit a substantial white-light PV effect. Both the RS and PV behaviors can be modulated by additional pulsed voltages, which control the electric polarization of the heterojunctions. This letter is helpful for exploring the multifunctional heterojunctions and their applications in memory devices and solar cells.