Photodoping of Ag into Single Crystal As₂S₃

Abstract

Photodoping of silver into the cleaved surface of single crystal As₂S₃ (natural orpiment) was observed by electrical resistance measurements and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The initial stage of the phenomenon was concluded to be photo-oxidation of silver at the interface between silver and As₂S₃, and was proved to be independent of the amorphous nature like photodarkening observed in amorphous chalcogenides.