TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The band gap is preferably 1.1-1.6 eV. The ferroelectric perovskite comprises the solid solution of potassium niobate and barium-nickel-niobium oxide (BaNi(1/2)Nb(1/2)O(3- delta )). The solid solution of potassium niobate and barium-nickel-niobium oxide (BaNi(1/2)Nb(1/2)O(3- delta )) is represented as (1-x)KNbO(3-x)BaNi(1/2)Nb(1/2)O(3- delta ), where x is 0.01-0.99, preferably 0.1-0.5. The compound comprises perovskite structure according to X-ray diffraction, where the lattice parameters according to X-ray diffraction increase with barium-nickel-niobium (BNN) substitution. delta is 0.2-0.3. The semiconducting ferroelectric layer: has a band gap of 1-2 eV, preferably 1.1-1.5 eV; and comprises the solid solution. The heterojunction of n- and p-type semiconductors is nanostructured. The solar cell further comprises a back contact in electrical communication with the p-type semiconductor, a blocking layer in electrical communication with the n-type semiconductor, and a front contact in electrical communication with the blocking layer, where light radiation incident upon the front contact gives rise to an electric load between the back contact and the front contact. The ferroelectric absorber layer comprises a perovskite, where the perovskite comprises the semiconducting ferroelectric layer. The type II interface comprises: at least one band offset capable of separating carriers; and a bi-polar n-p junction, a n+-n junction and/or a p-p+ junction. The solid solution of oxides has the ferroelectric perovskite. EXAMPLE - Stoichiometric quantities of potassium carbonate, barium carbonate, nickel oxide (green) and niobium pentoxide were weighed and mixed by grinding in a mortar and pestle. The powders were then ball-milled using yttria-stabilized zirconia planetary milling media in ethanol for 2 hours. The dried powders were then calcined on platinum foil in an alumina crucible at 900 degrees C for 12 hours. Approximately 300 mg aliquots were pressed into 0.25 inch pellets in a uniaxial press. The pellets were then isostatically pressed in an oil medium at 80000 psi. The pellets were then placed on platinum foil in a covered alumina crucible, surrounded by sacrificial powder of the same composition, and sintered at 1050-1250 degrees C, depending on the composition. Potassium niobate melts at 1050 degrees C and was sintered at a lower temperature, whereas potassium-barium-nickel-niobium-oxide (K(0.5)Ba(0.5)Ni(0.25)Nb(0.75)O(3- delta ) was sintered above 1200 degrees C to achieve greater than 90% theoretical density. At all stages of synthesis, samples were either kept at elevated temperature (at least 200 degrees C) or in a desiccator, and exposure to moisture was kept to a minimum, to obtain the ferroelectric perovskite.