Photoconductivity of PbO-doped borosilicate glass prepared by the sol-gel process

Partially crystallized lead borosilicate glasses were prepared from 0.65PbO0.20B2O30.15SiO2 gels. The microstructure and photoconductive characteristics of the materials thus obtained were studied. Photoconductive measurements performed on films (200–250 μ m thick) indicate an efficiency (1.73) higher than that (1.45) obtained on homologous glass-ceramics prepared by melting of oxides at T > 900°C.