Photoconductivity in rare earth metal-oxy-hydrides

Abstract: In this project the evolution of resistivity under light exposition in materials like rare earth metal-oxy-hydrides is studied. These materials observe a decrease of the resistance when exposed under the light of a 19,5 W power lamp, and slowly tend to return to their initial resistance. After having developed a resistance measurement setup, the photoconductivity of different samples (Gd, YHO) was measured in function of the oxygen concentration and in different conditions such as the face of illumination.