First-principles calculation of the bulk photovoltaic effect in the polar compounds LiAsS2, LiAsSe2, and NaAsSe2

Abstract

We calculate the shift current response, which has been identified as the dominant mechanism for the bulk photovoltaic effect, for the polar compounds LiAsS2, LiAsSe2, and NaAsSe2. We find that the magnitudes of the photovoltaic responses in the visible range for these compounds exceed the maximum response obtained for BiFeO3 by 10–20 times. We correlate the high shift current response with the existence of p states at both the valence and conduction band edges, as well as the dispersion of these bands, while also showing that high polarization is not a requirement. With low experimental band gaps of less than 2 eV and high shift current response, these materials have potential for use as bulk photovoltaics.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Nov 25, 2014
Source ID
10.1063/1.4901433

Entities

People

  • Andrew M Rappe
  • Fan Zheng
  • John A. Brehm
  • S. Young

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • National Science Foundation
  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Department of Energy
  • University of Pennsylvania

Tags

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.
  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.