The pyro-phototronic
effect is based on the coupling among photoexcitation,
pyroelectricity, and semiconductor charge transport in pyroelectric
materials, which can be utilized to modulate photoexcited carriers
to enhance the output performance of solar cells. Herein, we have
demonstrated the largely enhanced output performance of a P3HT/ZnO
nanowire array photovoltaic cell (PVC) by using the pyro-phototronic
effect under weak light illuminations. By applying an external cooling
temperature variation, the output current and voltage of the PVC can
be dramatically enhanced by 18% and 152% under indoor light illumination,
respectively. This study realizes the performance enhancement of pyroelectric
semiconductor materials-based solar cells <i>via</i> a temperature-variation-induced
pyro-phototronic effect, which may have potential applications in
solar energy scavenging and self-powered sensor systems
