The Effect of Multi-Fields Synergy from Electric/Light/Thermal/Force Technologies on Photovoltaic Performance of Ba0.06 Bi0.47 Na0.47 TiO3 Ferroelectric Ceramics via the Mg/Co Substitution at A/B Sites

Small Methods. 2024 Mar 9:e2301675. doi: 10.1002/smtd.202301675. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Currently, it is widely reported that the photovoltaic effect in ferroelectric materials can be promoted by the application of a piezoelectric force, an external electric field, and intense light illumination. Here, a semiconducting ferroelectric composition is introduced, (1-x) Ba0.06 Bi0.47 Na0.47 TiO3 -xMgCoO3 (abbreviated as xMgCo, where x = 0.02-0.08), synthesized through Mg/Co ions codoping. This process effectively narrows the optical bandgaps to a spectrum of 1.38-3.06 eV. Notably, the system exhibits a substantial increase in short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc ), by the synergy of the electric, light, and thermal fields. The Jsc can still be further enhanced by the extra introduction of a force field. Additionally, the Jsc also shows an obvious increase after the high field pre-poling. The generation of a considerable number of oxygen vacancies due to the Co2+ /Co3+ mixed valence state (in a 1:3 ratio) contributes to the reduced optimal bandgap. The integration of Mg2+ ion at the A-site restrains the loss and sustains robust ferroelectricity (Pr = 24.1 µC cm-2 ), high polarizability under an electric field, and a significant piezoelectric coefficient (d33 = 102 pC N-1 ). This study provides a novel perspective on the physical phenomena arising from the synergy of multiple fields in ferroelectric photovoltaic materials.

Keywords: Ba0.06Bi0.47Na0.47TiO3 ceramics; multi-fields synergy; photovoltaic effect; semiconducting ferroelectrics.