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PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF CONDUCTION IN MOLECULAR SOLIDS *
Author(s) -
WEIGL JOHN W.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1972.tb06299.x
Subject(s) - sensitization , electric field , optoelectronics , electrolyte , thermal conduction , charge carrier , photoconductivity , absorption (acoustics) , photoresistor , chemistry , materials science , chemical physics , physics , electrode , quantum mechanics , immunology , composite material , biology
— The mechanism of spectral sensitization of conduction in molecular photoconductors has been investigated in systems in which sensitizer and photoconductor form separate layers. The efficiency of sensitization is strongly influenced by external fields, approaching 100 per cent at 10 6 V/cm in certain cases. The spectral response, efficiency, and field dependence are characteristic primarily of the sensitizer, while the transport characteristics are largely determined by the photoconductor. These results are considered in the light of available information concerning the molecular energy levels of the materials studied. They support the view that light absorption produces mobile electronic charge carriers in the sensitizer, which may be separated, injected, and transported across the photoconductor under an applied electric field. This mechanism is consistent with the interpretation of work on electrolyte‐photoconductor contacts, and appears to account for all that is presently known about optical sensitization of molecularly bonded photoconductors.