The photo-electrical performance of the novel CuAlMnFe shape memory alloy film in the diode application

•Au/CuAlMnFe/n-Si/Al diode was fabricated.•It is determined that low symmetry martensite phases formed at low temperature coexist in the alloy.•Illumination effects to electrical characteristics were reported.•It is found that the produced device is very sensitive to exposed solar light.•It has been seen that the device performance is dependent on the voltage and frequency.