Laser-induced photovoltaic response and robust superconductivity in YBCO/STO thin films

The interaction between superconductivity and light in YBCO thin films offers an emerging pathway for multifunctional device applications. In this work, we report that YBCO/SrTiO? heterostructures maintain a high critical temperature of 88 K and remarkable superconducting stability, even under pulsed laser irradiation at energies beyond the superconducting gap. Unexpectedly, a residual resistance and a pronounced photovoltaic effect were detected, suggesting unconventional carrier dynamics and light-induced electronic states. Reflectance spectroscopy further revealed that superelectrons play a dominant role in shaping the optical response of the films, strengthening the link between their photonic and superconducting properties. These results point to the feasibility of light-modulated superconducting functionalities and indicate that YBCO thin films can serve as promising platforms for optoelectronic devices and high-efficiency solar cells.

Luz Esther González is a faculty member in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad del Tolima, Colombia. She is a member of the Semiconductors and Superionics Materials Research Group, and her research focuses on thin films, photonic crystals, optoelectronic devices, and the computational simulation of photonic structures. Her current work explores the interaction between light and advanced materials for applications in sensing, photovoltaics, and superconductivity.