Enhanced Photocurrent Response in Epitaxial 0.5PZT-0.5PFN Multiferroic Thin Films

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The exploration of novel multiferroic materials with strong coupling between ferroelectric polarization and photovoltaic effects is crucial for next-generation optoelectronic devices. In this study, we characterized highly oriented 0.5Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3-0.5Pb(Fe0.5Nb0.5)O3 multiferroic thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on SrTiO3 (001) substrates with a SrRuO3 bottom electrode. The films exhibited excellent crystalline quality, with a single perovskite phase and (001) orientation. They displayed good ferroelectric properties (remanent polarization 17 μC/cm², PUND; coercive field 150 kV/cm), alongside weak ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature (remanence 1.30 emu/cm³; coercive field 90 Oe). Photovoltaic measurements demonstrated a robust, polarization-dependent photoresponse under 403 nm monochromatic laser illumination, achieving Jsc values between ±20 μA/cm². This compelling observation confirms the intrinsic coupling between ferroelectric polarization and photovoltaic effects, highlighting the considerable promise of these single-phase multiferroic thin films for advanced photovoltaic and optoelectronic memory applications.