Non-steady-state Photovoltaic Current in (Pb0.85La0.15)TiO3 and BaTiO3 Ceramics

Abstract

The effect of poling field on the photocurrent was investigated in (Pb0.85La0.15)TiO3 and BaTiO3 ceramics. Non-steady-state photovoltaic current and no pyrocurrent on cooling were observed in both poled ceramics. The maximum behaviors were obtained at the poling field of 1.5 kV/mm. They were explained in terms of the photoinduced reversible and irreversible increases in the remanent polarization resulting from the space charge field, which was established by electrons trapped at grain boundary during illumination. No pyrocurrent on cooling was responsible for the reversible increase of the remanent polarization. The photoinduced irreversible increase of the remanent polarization, i.e., photodomain effect, was confirmed using the acoustic emission technique.