Dye sensitization of the photoeffect in ferroelectric semiconductors

This article examined the possibility of spectral sensitization of the photoeffect in ferroelectric semiconductors by means of dye. The measurements were performed with microcrystalline powders of the ferroelectrics (titanates and niobates). It was found that all these photoconductors can be specifically sensitized with adsorbed organic dye molecules. The sensitization efficiency estimated as the ratio of the photocurrents in the maxima of sensitized and intrinsic sensitivity was between 0.05 and 0.15 for the different dyes in these first experiments. It can be seen that the photoconductor's sensitivity to visible light could be increased substantially as a result of spectral sensitization. It was found that certain dyes, particularly polymethine and triphenylmethane dyes, undergo very rapid photobleaching when adsorbed on these compounds