The Photovoltaic Properties of BiFeO₃La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ Heterostructures

An epitaxial BiFeO₃/La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (BFO/LSMO) multiferroic heterostructure is grown on an LaAlO₃ (001) substrate by laser molecular beam epitaxy, and its photovoltaic properties are investigated. It is found that the photocurrent is significantly increased under illumination, and the short-circuit photocurrent has a linear relationship with the laser intensity. Furthermore, when the ferroelectric polarization of the BFO layer is switched, the short-circuit photocurrent and open-circuit voltage can be switched. These results are discussed by considering the contributions from the ferroelectric polarization and the electrode/film interface.