Photovoltaic properties of cd-based ionic liquid crystals with semiconductor nanoparticles

The photovoltaic effect in pure cadmium-alkanoate matrices and in their nanocomposites with semiconductor CdS nanoparticles (NPs) was revealed and investigated. The main mechanism of the phenomenon is the Dember effect, in which the internal field of non-equilibrium charge carriers is formed due to a significant difference in the mobility of positive and negative charges. NPs synthesized in the matrix lead to a significant increase in the concentration of the photo-generated electrons and thus to an increase in the photo-electro-driving force in the material. The magnitude and kinetics of the photocurrent for nanocomposites substantially depend on the content of only a small amount (2 - 4 mol. %) of NPs.