Ultraviolet Photoelectric Effect in ZrO₂ Single Crystals

Nanosecond photoelectric effect is observed in a ZrO₂ single crystal at ambient temperature for the first time. The rise time is 20ns and the full width at half maximum is about 30ns for the photovoltaic pulse when the wafer surface of the ZrO₂ single crystal is irradiated by 248nm KrF laser pulses. The experimental results show that ZrO₂ single crystals may be a potential candidate in UV photodetectors.