Sensitization, spectral

To achieve spectral sensitization by singlet energy transfer with a sensitizer that absorbs at a longer wavelength than the reactant would require endothermic energy transfer, which under normal circumstances is not a practical solution. However, it is possible to accomplish this with a sensitizer whose singlet excited state lies below that of the reactant, but whose triplet level lies above the triplet 

Light is absorbed by a dye which acts as an electron donor to Ag+. SCE = silver-camomel electrode 

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The use of sensitizing dyes in photography has been the subject of many studies and constitutes. still now. one of the most studied areas in specialized periodic publications (125, 126) or in textbooks (88. 127). It can be ascertained that one hundred years after Vogel s discovery of spectral sensitization, the basic mechanisms of action of dyes on their silver halide support still remain not fully understood. However, the theoretical reasons explaining why among many other dye families practically only cyanine methine dyes appear to be spectral sensitizers (128) are better known. 

An illustration of the technological significance of the relaxation phenomenon can be taken from photographic chemistry. Dyes of the cyanine class where Y = S, 0, CH—CH— n = 0,1,2,3...X = haUde, etc, are used as spectral sensitizers to extend photochemical response of the photographic silver hahdes, which only absorb blue and ultraviolet light, into the visible spectral regime. 

Fig. 9. Spectral sensitivity of detectors where the detector temperatures in K are in parentheses, and the dashed line represents the theoretical limit at 300 K for a 180° field of view, (a) Detectors from near uv to short wavelength infrared (b) lead salt family of detectors and platinum siUcide (c) detectors used for detection in the mid- and long wavelength infrared. The Hg CdTe, InSb, and PbSnTe operate intrinsically, the doped siUcon is photoconductive, and the GaAs/AlGaAs is a stmctured supedattice and (d) extrinsic germanium detectors showing the six most popular dopants.

HgCdTe photodiode performance for the most part depends on high quantum efficiency and low dark current density (83,84) as expressed by equations 23 and 25. Typical values of at 77 K ate shown as a function of cutoff wavelength in Figure 16 (70). HgCdTe diodes sensitive out to a wavelength of 10.5 p.m have shown ideal diffusion current limitation down to 50 K. Values of have exceeded 1 x 10 . Spectral sensitivities for... 

AlGaAs quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal planes have achieved sufficient sensitivity out to 10-p.m wavelength to result in scene temperature sensitivity of ca 0.2°C when the focal plane is cooled to 77 K. Spectral sensitivity is shown in Eigure 9c and array information is given in Table 1. The supedattice, a newer tool for achieving controlled activation energy, should present many alternative infrared detection techniques. 

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