Becquerel Photovoltaic Effect in Binary Compounds

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Abstract
An experimental study has been made of photovoltaic effects which occur at semiconductor‐electrolyte interfaces. Single crystal specimens of CdS and several other compounds were used. It was found that in a number of cases the photovoltaic effect results from a chemical reaction of the electrode materials. In such cases the observations may be explained by a simple mechanism which relates the sign of the photo‐emf to the conductivity type of the semiconductor and to the chemical reaction which is occurring. The reaction may be predicted using readily available thermodynamic data. A different process occurs when the electrode material is GaAs. It acts as an inert electrode which exchanges electrons with an oxidation‐reduction couple in the solution.