Semiconducting organic photovoltaic sensor

摘要

An organic diode operated in photovoltaic mode is used as a sensor for nitroaromatic electron accepting compounds. While illuminated by a light source with a wavelength within the organic materials absorption the device produces a small photovoltaic response due to inefficient separation of charges. Upon exposure to an electron accepting compound, the device produces an increase in photovoltaic activity due to more efficient charge separation, producing a larger measurable open circuit voltage. Upon removal of the compound the measured voltage decreases and returns to near its baseline value.

主权项

1. A semiconducting organic photovoltaic sensor device, comprising:
a glass substrate upon which is coated a transparent ITO layer, wherein the transparent ITO layer is used as a positive anode connection; a photoresist layer applied onto a cathode connecting portion of an exposed side of the ITO coating; a semitransparent conducting polymer layer applied onto a sensing portion of said exposed side of the ITO coating; an active polymer layer of the device applied onto an exposed side of said semitransparent conducting polymer layer of said sensing portion; a lithium fluoride layer uniformly applied onto an exposed side of both the photoresist and active polymer layers; and an aluminum layer applied onto an exposed side of said lithium fluoride layer, where a negative cathode connection is provided to the aluminum layer, wherein the layers in between the anode and cathode make up the active layers of the device.