The use of ferroelectrics in photovoltaic devices could in theory provide several advantages such as above-bandgap open circuit voltage and enhanced electric field [1]. Still, recent examples show that current applications display a degraded short-circuit current [2]. However the quest for efficient ferroelectric materials to be implemented into photovoltaic devices is only at the beginning. The field is related to the more general topic of photoferroelectrics where light can induce ferroelectric polarization effects and vice-versa. We have been investigating most promising lower bandgap ferroelectric semiconductors, such as Bi2FeCrO6 [10-18], sulfur-doped BiFeO3 [3-4], β-CuGaO2 [5], KBiFe2O5 [6], and h-TbMnO3 [7].

This topic has been initiated through an ANR JCJC « FERROPV » project.

[1] The Role of Dimensionality on the Optoelectronic Properties of Oxide and Halide Perovskites, and their Halide Derivatives, R. Hoye*, J. Hidalgo, R. Jagt, J.-P. Correa-Baena, T. Fix*, J. MacManus-Driscoll*, Advanced Energy Materials, 2100499, pages 1-59 (2021)

[2] Oxide and Ferroelectric Solar Cells, T. Fix, in Advanced micro- and nanomaterials for photovoltaics, Elsevier 2019, ISBN: 978-0-12-814501-2

[3] Effect of post-sulfurization on BiFeO3 films, T. Fix, T. Tsuchiyama, D. Stoeffler, X. Henning, R. A. Wibowo, M. V. Rastei, A. Dinia, A. Slaoui, M. Sugiyama, J Mater Sci: Mater Energy 2, 7 (2026). 

[4] Effect of sulfur implantation in BiFeO3 thin films, T. Fix, X. Henning, D. Muller, R. A. Wibowo, M. Rastei, A. Dinia, A. Slaoui, Journal of Alloys and Compounds 1024, 180245 (2025)

[5] Preparation of β-CuGaO2 thin films by ion-exchange of β-NaGaO2 film fabricated by a solgel method, T. Fix, J. L. Rehspringer, S. Roques, A. Slaoui, emergent mater. 6, 167-174 (2023)

[6] Investigation of KBiFe2O5 as a Photovoltaic Absorber, T. Fix, G. Schmerber, H. Wang, J.-L. Rehspringer, C. Leuvrey, S. Roques, M. Lenertz, D. Muller, H. Wang, A. Slaoui, ACS Appl. Energy Mater 2 (11), 8039-8044 (2019)

[7] Insights on hexagonal TbMnO3 for optoelectronic applications: From powders to thin films, T. Fix, G. Schmerber, J.-L. Rehspringer, M. Rastei, S. Roques, J. Bartringer, A. Slaoui, Journal of Alloys and Compounds 883, 160922 (2021)

BFCO related publications in collaboration with IPCMS

[10] Tailoring imprint in ferroelectric thin films through substrate work function, C. Hu, L. Schlur, G. Versini, T. Fix, A. Dinia, M. V. Rastei, S. Colis, Appl. Phys. Lett. 128, 252904 (2026) 

[11] Impact of Bi Vacancies on the Polarization and Transport Properties of Bi₂FeCrO₆ Thin Films, C. Hu, X. Henning. D. Stoeffler, L. Schlur, G. Versini, C. Leuvrey, F. Roulland, U-C Chung, T. Fix, A. Dinia, M.V. Rastei, and S. Colis, ACS Appl. Electron. 8, 6, 2364–2372(2026)

[12] Depletion region width of a ferroelectric heterostructure interface by surface potential measurements under illumination, A. Bagard, C. Hu, X. Henning, T. Fix, M. Lenertz, A. Dinia, S. Colis, and M. V. Rastei, Physical Review Materials 9, 123801 (2025)

[13] Probing ferroelectric switching via spatially averaged hysteresis loops in rough thin films, C. Hu, X. Henning, L. Schlur, G. Versini, T. Fix, A. Dinia, M. V. Rastei, S. Colis, Applied Physics Letters 127, 182903 (2025)

[14] Interfacial photovoltaic effects in ferroelectric Bi2FeCrO6 thin films, X. Henning, L. Schlur, L. Wendling, T. Fix, S. Colis, A. Dinia, M. Alexe, and M. V. Rastei, Phys. Rev. Mater. 9, 024403 (2025)

[15] Oxygen vacancy effects on polarization switching of ferroelectric Bi2FeCrO6 thin films, X. Henning, K. Alhada-Lahbabi, D. Deleruyelle, B. Gautier, L. Schlur, T. Fix, S. Colis, A. Dinia, and M. V. Rastei, Physical Review Materials 8, 054416 (2024)

[16] Thickness dependence and strain effects in ferroelectric Bi2FeCrO6 thin films], M. Rastei, F. Gellé, G. Schmerber, A. Quattropani, T. Fix, A. Dinia, A. Slaoui, S. Colis, ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2, 8550 (2019)

[17] Tuning photovoltaic response in Bi2FeCrO6 films by ferroelectric poling, A. Quattropani, A. Makhort, M. V. Rastei, G. Versini, G. Schmerber, S. Barre, A. Dinia, A. Slaoui, J.-L. Rehspringer, T. Fix, S. Colis and B. Kundys, Nanoscale 10, 13761 (2018)

[18] Band-gap tuning in ferroelectric Bi2FeCrO6 double perovskite thin films, A. Quattropani, D. Stoeffler, T. Fix, G. Schmerber, M. Lenertz, G. Versini, J. L. Rehspringer, A. Slaoui, A. Dinia and S. Colis, Journal of Physical Chemistry C 122, 1070 (2018)