Influence of temperature and wavelength on the switchable photovoltaic response of a BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 thin film

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) response of epitaxial BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 thin film grown by pulsed laser deposition has been investigated on a broad range of temperature. Wavelength dependent photovoltaic effect shows the contribution of in gap level states most likely connected to the manganese doping on the B-site of the perovskite unit cells and presence of defects (Bi and O vacancies). The temperature dependent response of the PV response rules out electromigration and/or Schottky barriers as dominant mechanisms. This is corroborated with the observed switchable photovoltaic effect that can be explained either by the depolarizing field or bulk photovoltaic effect. In addition the PV response shows strong correlation with the low temperature polaronic like conduction mechanism and high open circuit voltage (2.5V) is detected in the investigated vertical capacitive geometry.