STRUCTURAL DEPENDENCE ON THE PHOTOCONDUCTION AND PHOTOVOLTAIC BEHAVIOR OF MEROCYANINE DYES-III

The present results are concerned with the photoconduction and photovo ltaic behaviour of two new merocyanine dyes (derived from two differen t heterocyclic nuclei) in thin film form on a surface type multi-elect rode cell structure. It is found that the dominant trapping level in p hotoconduction is different from that in dark conduction. A band model has been used to evaluate the charge carrier transport parameters and the generation of charge carriers is explained on the basis of an exc iton model which is confirmed by the intensity variation of the photoc urrent in these dyes. The dyes were found to behave as p-type semicond uctors. The distribution of traps which is exponential in nature is su ggested from the intensity dependence of the short-circuit current for photovoltaic properties. The results were sought to rationalise in te rms of the structure of the dyes with their conduction properties.