Space charge effect on the photocurrent of Pt-sandwiched Pb(Zr0.20Ti0.80)O-3 film capacitors

The space charge effect on the photocurrent of the Pt-sandwiched Pb(Zr0.20Ti0.80)O-3 (PZT) films was investigated. The films were prepared under different annealing temperatures and atmospheres to control the densities of space charges in the PZT films. By testing the short-circuit photocurrent after the films were poled under different voltages and correlating the loops of the static photocurrent-poling voltage with the dynamic polarization-switching voltage, it was manifested that the space charges, especially the time-dependent trapped charges, affected significantly the photoelectric properties of the PZT films through an indirect way of influencing the Schottky barrier in the Pt/PZT/Pt capacitors.