Synergistic Effect in Photoconductive Composites of Soluble Polyimides with Dyes of the Rylene Series

Considerable enhancement (by 5 to 6 times) is observed in the photoelectric sensitivity (up to 300 m2/J) and quantum yield of charge carrier photogeneration in the absorption band of a long-wavelength dye in the range of 600–720 nm upon using a short-wavelength dye absorbing in the 400–600 nm range (a synergistic effect) while sensitizing photoconductive polyimide layers with a mixture of two dyes of the rylene series in order to obtain panchromatic sensitivity. It is established there is also an increase in the length of carrier drift under conditions of the synergistic effect. A photovoltaic effect is detected and investigated in sandwich cells with Al and indium–tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. A possible mechanism of this effect is proposed.