Nanocrystalline cerium oxide films as a functional material for photodetectors of bioluminescent signal

Photosensitive nanocrystalline cerium oxide films (CeOx-films) have been obtained. Physical properties of the thin CeOx-films have been studied for the purpose of their application as a functional material of new type of photodetectors for bioluminescence registration. Through changing microstructure, morphology and composition of the films we have determined the main principles of their physical properties control. The influence of technological factors on the photoelectrical, optical, temperature and electrophysical properties of the cerium oxide films has been studied. On the basis of the synthesized nanocrystalline CeOx-films obtained by the "explosive evaporation" method we have developed new types of photodetectors for registration of bioluminescent signal (photoresistors and photodiodes) with enhanced photosensitivity (310-330 μA/lm·V) in the visible spectrum. Photoresistors and photodiodes with CeOx-films allowed us to create a new type of bioluminescent sensor based on the effective semiconductor photodetectors. Such photodetectors haven't disadvantages typical for photomultiplier tubes and avalanche photodiodes.