Polarization control of photoconductivity in BiFeO3/La1-xSrxMnO3 (x=0.33, 0.5) heterostructures

Abstract In this work, the electrical transport properties of metallic La 0·67 Sr 0·33 MnO 3 and insulating La 0·5 Sr 0·5 MnO 3 films were manipulated by ferroelectric polarization of BiFeO 3 and light illumination at 40 K. Compared with BiFeO 3 /La 0·67 Sr 0·33 MnO 3 heterostructure, the BiFeO 3 /La 0·5 Sr 0·5 MnO 3 heterostructure shows more obvious photoconductivity response when switching the out-of-plane polarization direction of BiFeO 3 , as the downward polarized state of BiFeO 3 and light illumination both promote the transition towards the ferromagnetic metallic phase of La 0·5 Sr 0·5 MnO 3 . These results would be helpful for the practical application of all oxide heterostructures in photoelectric devices.