photoelectric

[ foh-toh-i-lek-trik ]

adjective

1. pertaining to the electronic or other electric effects produced by light.

photoelectric

/ ˌfəʊtəʊɪˈlɛktrɪk; ˌfəʊtəʊɪlɛkˈtrɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of or concerned with electric or electronic effects caused by light or other electromagnetic radiation

photoelectric

/ fō′tō-ĭ-lĕk′trĭk /

1. Relating to or exhibiting to electrical effects upon exposure to light. For example, some photoelectric materials emit electrons called photoelectrons upon exposure to certain frequencies of light; others, such as photoresistors and phototransistors, change their electrical properties.
2. See also photoelectric effect

Derived Forms

• ˌphotoeˈlectrically, adverb
• photoelectricity, noun

Other Words From

• photo·e·lectri·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of photoelectric¹

First recorded in 1860–65; photo- + electric

Example Sentences

This technology can enhance photoelectric conversion efficiency to over 30% when used alongside existing silicon solar cells, thereby increasing the possibility of replacing fossil fuel-based energy sources and contributing to the achievement of carbon neutrality.

From Science Daily

QDs are semiconducting nanocrystals with typical dimensions ranging from several to tens of nanometers, capable of controlling photoelectric properties based on their particle size.

From Science Daily

At Cal Tech, physicist Robert Millikan brought home the first of Southern California’s dozens of Nobel Prizes “for his work on the elementary charge of electricity and on the photoelectric effect.”

From Los Angeles Times

There are two main types of alarm sensors: ionization and photoelectric.

From Washington Post

Einstein solved this quandary—the puzzle of the photoelectric effect—but his solution was even more revolutionary than Planck’s hypothesis.

From Literature