Formation and its characteristics of PLZT layered film for transducers

This paper reports on the formation of a new layered film structure and the highly improved photovoltaic output of the lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) employed. PLZT film was deposited onto a Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrate and sandwiched vertically between electrodes. The new structure design is described using a top transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. Inspection by X-ray diffraction revealed that the PLZT film had a perovskite structure. The PLZT film structure exhibited V and μA output. This means that the photovoltaic current of the PLZT film per unit width was more than 10 ² times larger than that of bulk PLZT, while the photovoltaic voltage per unit thickness in the layered film structure was almost the same as that in bulk ceramics. These differences are due to the characteristics of the film structure and configuration of the electrode. In addition to the photovoltaic output the PLZT film also has the advantage of its easily controllable parameters: film thickness, illuminated area and illumination intensity. A simple model is used for the phenomenological explanation of the improved photovoltaic effect of the PLZT film.