Photovoltaic properties of semiconductor-protein heterocontacts

It is found that heterocontacts consisting of a semiconductor (e.g., InSe) and a natural protein exhibit a broad-band photovoltaic effect and do not display an appreciable shortwavelength drop in the spectral range from 1.2 to 3.7 eV. The maximum photosensitivity of such structures, which reaches 2 mA/W at T=300 K, is observed when they are illuminated on the protein side. It is concluded that the structures created can be employed as broad-band photosensors of optical radiation. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 25, 76–80 (April 26, 1999)