Photovoltaic property of BiFeO3 thin films with 109° domains

We report the photovoltaic effect of multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films with 109 degrees domains under white light illumination. BiFeO3 thin films that contain well-aligned 109 degrees domains with mainly two polarization variants were prepared by using miscut DyScO3 substrates. We have conduced piezoelectric force microscopy study using a planar device. A direct correlation between the 109 degrees domains switching and the photovoltaic response of the films was established. The polarity of the photovoltage is switchable upon polarization reversal. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3641905]