Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 324, Issue 5923, Pages 63-66Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.1168636
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Funding
- NSF [NSF-DMR-0804109, 0704487]
- Korean government [KRF-2007-357-C00023]
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien
- Division Of Materials Research [0704487] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- National Research Foundation of Korea [2007-357-C00023] Funding Source: Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information (KISTI), National Science & Technology Information Service (NTIS)
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Unidirectional electric current flow, such as that found in a diode, is essential for modern electronics. It usually occurs at asymmetric interfaces such as p-n junctions or metal/semiconductor interfaces with Schottky barriers. We report on a diode effect associated with the direction of bulk electric polarization in BiFeO3: a ferroelectric with a small optical gap edge of similar to 2.2 electron volts. We found that bulk electric conduction in ferroelectric monodomain BiFeO3 crystals is highly nonlinear and unidirectional. This diode effect switches its direction when the electric polarization is flipped by an external voltage. A substantial visible-light photovoltaic effect is observed in BiFeO3 diode structures. These results should improve understanding of charge conduction mechanisms in leaky ferroelectrics and advance the design of switchable devices combining ferroelectric, electronic, and optical functionalities.
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