Transient photocurrents in lead zirconate titanate thin films

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.120663· OSTI ID:565584

Kholkin, A ^[1]; Boiarkine, O ^[2]; Setter, N ^[1]

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1. Laboratoire de Ceramique, DMX, EPFL (Switzerland)
2. Laboratoire de Chimie Physique Moleculaire, DC, EPFL (Switzerland)

Transient photocurrents are investigated in ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films illuminated by laser pulses in the spectral range of 340{endash}380 nm. At low electric fields, the photocurrent is sensitive to the ferroelectric polarization state and changes sign upon the polarization switching. At higher fields, the polarization-independent current proportional to the applied electric field is dominant. The spectral dependence of polarization-dependent current is controlled by the excitation of charge carriers over the forbidden band of PZT having a maximum near 3.5 eV. Possible mechanisms of the observed effect are discussed and the possibilities of a nondestructive read out of polarization state in the ultraviolet spectral range are demonstrated. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 565584
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 72; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
LASER RADIATION
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MEMORY DEVICES
PHOTOCONDUCTIVITY
PHOTOCURRENTS
POLARIZATION
PZT
THIN FILMS
TRANSIENTS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION