Dye-coated superconductor structures as optical sensors

The preparation and characterization of a new generation of hybrid optical sensors fabricated from high-temperature superconductor thin films coated with organic dye overlayers is described herein. These dye-coated superconductor structures respond selectively to those wavelengths of light which are absorbed strongly by the molecular dye. Methods for preparing such optical sensors are details. Scanning electron microscopy, resistivity vs. temperature and optical measurements are exploited to characterize the hybrid devices.