Raman Vibrations, Domain Structures, and Photovoltaic Effects in A‐Site La‐Modified BiFeO 3 Multiferroic Ceramics

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society 2015-10, Vol.99 (2)
• Main Authors: Tu, Chi‐Shun, Chen, Cheng‐Sao, Chen, Pin‐Yi, Xu, Zhe‐Rui, Idzerda, Yves U., Schmidt, V. Hugo, Lyu, Ming‐Quan, Chan, Ting‐Shan, Lin, Chun‐Yen, Damjanovic, ed., D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916

Micro‐Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy ( TEM ), oxygen vacancies, synchrotron X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, magnetizations, optical band gaps, and photovoltaic ( PV ) effects have been studied in (Bi 1− x La x )FeO 3 ( BFO 100 x L) ceramics for x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15. XRD , Raman spectra, and TEM confirm a rhombohedral R 3 c symmetry with the tilted FeO 6 oxygen octahedra in all compounds. The low‐frequency Raman vibrations become broader and shift toward higher frequency as La 3+ increases. Fe K‐edge synchrotron X‐ray absorptions reveal that Fe 3+ valence and Fe–O–Fe bond angle are not modified by the La 3+ substitution. All compounds exhibit a linear antiferromagnetic feature. Optical transmission reveals band gaps in the range of 2.22–2.24 eV. The heterostructures of indium tin oxide ( ITO ) film/(Bi 1− x La x )FeO 3 ceramics/Au film show a p – n junction‐like I – V characteristic behavior. The maximal PV power conversion efficiency can reach 0.19% in ITO / BFO 15L/Au under illumination of λ = 405 nm. A junction‐like theoretical model can reasonably describe open‐circuit voltage and short‐circuit current as a function of illumination intensity.