A Photoferroelectric Perovskite-Type Organometallic Halide with Exceptional Anisotropy of Bulk Photovoltaic Effects

Perovskite-type ferroelectrics composed of organometallic halides are emerging as a promising alternative to conventional photovoltaic devices because of their unique photovoltaic effects (PVEs). A new layered perovskite-type photoferroelectric, bis(cyclohexylaminium) tetrabromo lead (1), is presented. The material exhibits an exceptional anisotropy of bulk PVEs. Upon photoexcitation, superior photovoltaic behaviors are created along its inorganic layers, which are composed of corner-sharing PbBr6 octahedra. Semi-conducting activity with remarkable photoconductivity is achieved in the vertical direction, showing sizeable on/off current ratios (>10(4)), which compete with the most active photovoltaic material CH3NH3PbI3. In 1 the temperature-dependence of photovoltage coincides fairly well with that of polarization, confirming the dominant role of ferroelectricity in such highly anisotropic PVEs. This finding sheds light on bulk PVEs in ferroelectric materials, and promotes their application in optoelectronic devices.