Photoconductivity of ceramic PLZT thermally diffused with iron

Increased spectral sensitivity was observed in lead lanthanum zirconate titanate ceramic thermally diffused with iron. The magnitude of the photocurrent and dark current was found to depend on whether the diffusion atmosphere was oxidizing (air or oxygen) or was reducing (argon). The oxygen atmosphere was more efficient in enhancing the photocurrent than was diffusion in air. Samples annealed in argon showed a higher dark current than the samples diffused under oxidizing conditions and no photocurrent. The lowest dark current observed needs to be decreased further for use as a photosensitive layer in spatial light modulators