Improved photovoltaic performance via synergistically combining electric poling and flexoelectricity on lead-free ferroelectric (KNbO3)0.9(BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3-δ)0.1 films

Chuanqing Li; Yu Cai; Feifan Hu; Zhihua Duan; Tao Wang; Xiaomei Qin; Yanxue Tang; Xiangyong Zhao; Aiyun Liu; Feifei Wang; Zhongchen Gao; Fang Wang; Anyang Cui; Junhao Chu

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2026.177968

Improved photovoltaic performance via synergistically combining electric poling and flexoelectricity on lead-free ferroelectric (KNbO₃)_0.9(BaNi_1/2Nb_1/2O_3-δ)_0.1 films

Chuanqing Li
, Yu Cai
, Feifan Hu
, Zhihua Duan
, Tao Wang
, Xiaomei Qin
, Yanxue Tang
, Xiangyong Zhao
, Aiyun Liu
, Feifei Wang
, Zhongchen Gao^*
, Fang Wang
, Anyang Cui
, Junhao Chu

^*Corresponding author for this work

Shanghai Normal University
CAS - Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Potassium niobate-based [(KNbO₃)_0.9(BaNi_1/2Nb_1/2O_3-δ)_0.1, abbreviated: KBNNO] ferroelectrics have recently triggered great attentions because of its unique advantages of stable structure, narrow-bandgap, good photovoltaic properties and environment-friendly composites. However, exploring new strategies to dynamically and reversibly regulate and enhance the photocurrent of KNbO₃-based thin films is still of great significance. In this work, we propose to grow flexible KBNNO thin films on an inorganic Mica substrate. The integration of in-situ electric-field poling and the strain-gradient-induced flexoelectric field enables dynamic and reversible modulation of photocurrent, thereby boosting its output performance for ferroelectric photovoltaic applications. Under a single electric field polarization, the current increases from 8.09 μA/cm² to 10.72 μA/cm², and then to 12.10 μA/cm² with the synergy of the flexoelectric effect. This work opens a promising path for the development of multifunctional flexible optoelectronic materials.

Original language	English
Article number	177968
Journal	Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume	542
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.177968
State	Published - 15 Aug 2026
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Ferroelectric thin films
Flexoelectric effect
KBNNO
Photovoltaic output

Access to Document

10.1016/j.cej.2026.177968

Cite this

Li, C., Cai, Y., Hu, F., Duan, Z., Wang, T., Qin, X., Tang, Y., Zhao, X., Liu, A., Wang, F., Gao, Z., Wang, F., Cui, A., & Chu, J. (2026). Improved photovoltaic performance via synergistically combining electric poling and flexoelectricity on lead-free ferroelectric (KNbO₃)_0.9(BaNi_1/2Nb_1/2O_3-δ)_0.1 films. Chemical Engineering Journal, 542, Article 177968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.177968

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title = "Improved photovoltaic performance via synergistically combining electric poling and flexoelectricity on lead-free ferroelectric (KNbO3)0.9(BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3-δ)0.1 films",

abstract = "Potassium niobate-based [(KNbO3)0.9(BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3-δ)0.1, abbreviated: KBNNO] ferroelectrics have recently triggered great attentions because of its unique advantages of stable structure, narrow-bandgap, good photovoltaic properties and environment-friendly composites. However, exploring new strategies to dynamically and reversibly regulate and enhance the photocurrent of KNbO3-based thin films is still of great significance. In this work, we propose to grow flexible KBNNO thin films on an inorganic Mica substrate. The integration of in-situ electric-field poling and the strain-gradient-induced flexoelectric field enables dynamic and reversible modulation of photocurrent, thereby boosting its output performance for ferroelectric photovoltaic applications. Under a single electric field polarization, the current increases from 8.09 μA/cm2 to 10.72 μA/cm2, and then to 12.10 μA/cm2 with the synergy of the flexoelectric effect. This work opens a promising path for the development of multifunctional flexible optoelectronic materials.",

keywords = "Ferroelectric thin films, Flexoelectric effect, KBNNO, Photovoltaic output",

author = "Chuanqing Li and Yu Cai and Feifan Hu and Zhihua Duan and Tao Wang and Xiaomei Qin and Yanxue Tang and Xiangyong Zhao and Aiyun Liu and Feifei Wang and Zhongchen Gao and Fang Wang and Anyang Cui and Junhao Chu",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2026",

month = aug,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.cej.2026.177968",

language = "英语",

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Li, C, Cai, Y, Hu, F, Duan, Z, Wang, T, Qin, X, Tang, Y, Zhao, X, Liu, A, Wang, F, Gao, Z, Wang, F, Cui, A & Chu, J 2026, 'Improved photovoltaic performance via synergistically combining electric poling and flexoelectricity on lead-free ferroelectric (KNbO₃)_0.9(BaNi_1/2Nb_1/2O_3-δ)_0.1 films', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 542, 177968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.177968

TY - JOUR

T1 - Improved photovoltaic performance via synergistically combining electric poling and flexoelectricity on lead-free ferroelectric (KNbO3)0.9(BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3-δ)0.1 films

AU - Li, Chuanqing

AU - Cai, Yu

AU - Hu, Feifan

AU - Duan, Zhihua

AU - Wang, Tao

AU - Qin, Xiaomei

AU - Tang, Yanxue

AU - Zhao, Xiangyong

AU - Liu, Aiyun

AU - Wang, Feifei

AU - Gao, Zhongchen

AU - Wang, Fang

AU - Cui, Anyang

AU - Chu, Junhao

PY - 2026/8/15

Y1 - 2026/8/15

N2 - Potassium niobate-based [(KNbO3)0.9(BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3-δ)0.1, abbreviated: KBNNO] ferroelectrics have recently triggered great attentions because of its unique advantages of stable structure, narrow-bandgap, good photovoltaic properties and environment-friendly composites. However, exploring new strategies to dynamically and reversibly regulate and enhance the photocurrent of KNbO3-based thin films is still of great significance. In this work, we propose to grow flexible KBNNO thin films on an inorganic Mica substrate. The integration of in-situ electric-field poling and the strain-gradient-induced flexoelectric field enables dynamic and reversible modulation of photocurrent, thereby boosting its output performance for ferroelectric photovoltaic applications. Under a single electric field polarization, the current increases from 8.09 μA/cm2 to 10.72 μA/cm2, and then to 12.10 μA/cm2 with the synergy of the flexoelectric effect. This work opens a promising path for the development of multifunctional flexible optoelectronic materials.

AB - Potassium niobate-based [(KNbO3)0.9(BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3-δ)0.1, abbreviated: KBNNO] ferroelectrics have recently triggered great attentions because of its unique advantages of stable structure, narrow-bandgap, good photovoltaic properties and environment-friendly composites. However, exploring new strategies to dynamically and reversibly regulate and enhance the photocurrent of KNbO3-based thin films is still of great significance. In this work, we propose to grow flexible KBNNO thin films on an inorganic Mica substrate. The integration of in-situ electric-field poling and the strain-gradient-induced flexoelectric field enables dynamic and reversible modulation of photocurrent, thereby boosting its output performance for ferroelectric photovoltaic applications. Under a single electric field polarization, the current increases from 8.09 μA/cm2 to 10.72 μA/cm2, and then to 12.10 μA/cm2 with the synergy of the flexoelectric effect. This work opens a promising path for the development of multifunctional flexible optoelectronic materials.

KW - Ferroelectric thin films

KW - Flexoelectric effect

KW - KBNNO

KW - Photovoltaic output

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105040728903

U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2026.177968

DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2026.177968

M3 - 文章

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SN - 1385-8947

VL - 542

JO - Chemical Engineering Journal

JF - Chemical Engineering Journal

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