Negative photoconductivity of illuminated α-Se layers

Abstract The investigation results of the negative conductivity effect of α-Se layers illuminated by white light are presented in this paper. It is shown that with illumination of the α-Se layer the value of the current can decrease several times as compared with the dark value of the current. This effect is observed only in the case when the voltage–current characteristic changes into the function dependence (J vs Vn), the exponent index of which n=7.7. This effect is caused by recharge of deep states when the sample is illuminated.