ˌphotoconˈductive, a. Physics.
Also with hyphen.
[f. photo- 1 + conductive a.]
Photoconducting; of or pertaining to the property of being photoconducting.
| 1929 Campbell & Ritchie Photoelectric Cells i. 1 Selenium cells might be termed photo-conductive. 1933 Product Engin. Aug. 289/1 With each of the three general types of cells, photo-voltaic, photo-emissive and photo⁓conductive, it is possible to use a wide variety of auxiliary equipment. 1957 Proc. Inst. Electr. Engin. CIV. b. 467/1 In 1873, Smith discovered the change in conductivity of selenium when sunlight fell upon it—the photo-conductive effect. 1960 Time 8 Mar. 2/3 The effects of light, X and gamma radiation on photoconductive materials. 1971 Sci. Amer. June 13/3 (Advt.), An advantage of photovoltaic detectors is that no external power supply is required to produce the photosignal, whereas photoconductive detectors must be activated. |
Hence ˌphotoconducˈtivity, the property of being photoconductive.
| 1929 Campbell & Ritchie Photoelectric Cells ii. 20 The effect of the radiation appears as an increase of conductivity of the material rather than as a current flowing from it. This is the ultimate principle of selenium and other photo-conductivity devices. 1932 Hughes & DuBridge Photoelectric Phenomena viii. 329 Coblentz studied the photoconductivity of the halides of thallium, lead, and silver. 1974 Encycl. Brit. Macropædia XIII. 817/2 The most outstanding physical property of crystalline selenium is its photoconductivity: on illumination, the electrical conductivity increases more than 1,000-fold. |