Photovoltaic effect of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate in a layered film structure design

Abstract

This letter reports on the formation of a layered film structure and the highly improved photovoltaic output of the lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) employed. The photovoltaic current of the PLZT film per unit width was more than 102 times larger than that of bulk PLZT, while the photovoltaic voltage per unit thickness in the layered film structure was almost the same as that in bulk ceramics. These differences are due to the characteristics of the film structure and configuration of the electrode. A simple model is used for the phenomenological explanation of the improved photovoltaic effect of the PLZT film.