Perovskite‐Type Hybrid Ferroelectric Semiconductors: A Potential Photosensitive Candidate Family for New Optoelectronic Applications

Abstract

Abstract Ferroelectricity, characterized by the reversible switching of spontaneous polarization (Ps) under external electric field, exists in polar crystalline materials without a spatial‐inversion symmetry. On account of inherent Ps, ferroelectric materials show intriguing physical properties including piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity, second‐order optical nonlinearity, and electro‐optic effect. Such functions of ferroelectric materials have been widely used for practical applications. Recently, hybrid perovskites are emerging as a promising ferroelectric family that enables the combination and/or coupling of ferroelectricity, photoexcitation, and semiconductor behaviors. Due to the polarization deterioration caused by leakage current of photoexcited carriers, however, it is still a challenge to accomplish practical applications of ferroelectric semiconductors in the photoelectric field. In this review, the recent progress of ferroelectric system of perovskite‐type hybrids with different dimensions is summarized. Primarily, a brief description of crystallographic symmetry breaking which is a fundamental criterion to creating ferroelectricity, is illuminated. The combination and/or coupling of photoelectric properties with ferroelectric Ps is then presented. Finally, the further development tendency and possible application outlooks of this ferroelectric material system are prospected.

Keywords

• ferroelectric semiconductors
• ferroelectrics
• layer‐structured perovskites
• spontaneous polarization
• symmetry breaking