Free radicals generated during illumination of ZnO, TiO2, and AgCl pow
der with adsorbed dye sulphopropyl-5,5'-diphenyl-9-ethyl-oxacarbocyani
ne hydroxide) were investigated by ESR spin trapping. An ESR spectrum
having superfine structure was observed. It was attributed to the supe
roxide anion radical adduct of DMPO. This indicates that the electron
can be transfered from excited dye molecules to the conduction band of
the semiconductors. Subsequently it reacts with oxygen to form the su
peroxide anion radical. The observed results illustrate that oxygen de
creases the efficiency of spectral sensitization and provides decisive
evidence for the electron transfer theory of the spectral sensitizati
on of semiconductors.