Method for the differentiation of radiation-induced photocurrent from total measured current in P3HT/PCBM BHJ photodiodes

Abstract

Thin film radiation-detecting diodes fabricated in the laboratory, such as an organic bulk heterojunction, often contain conductive leads, indium tin oxide traces and metallic interconnects which are exposed to the high-energy photon beam during operation. These components generate extraneous radiation-induced currents, that, if not accounted for, will erroneously be attributed to the detector. In commercial devices, these contributions are mitigated by minimizing the size of these components, an approach that is often not feasible in a research lab. Here we demonstrate a method to measure these extraneous signals, and by subtraction, correct the gross signal to accurately reflect the signal generated in the active volume of the diode itself. The method can effectively correct the extraneous signal. The method showed promise over a range of photon beam energies, dose rates, and field sizes.