What term is used for the voltage produced when light strikes a photosensitive substance?

The term used for the voltage generated when light interacts with a photosensitive material is known as photoelectric voltage. This phenomenon occurs due to the photoelectric effect, where photons (light particles) collide with electrons in a substance, imparting energy to them. This additional energy can overcome the binding energy that holds electrons in place, allowing them to escape from their atomic structure. When this happens, a flow of electric charge is created, resulting in a measurable voltage.

In contrast, electromotive voltage typically refers to the potential difference created by a chemical reaction in batteries, conductive voltage relates to the voltage across a conductor due to the movement of charge carriers, and radiant voltage does not specifically refer to the generation of voltage from light but could be confused with concepts relating to electromagnetic radiation. Thus, the term photoelectric voltage precisely captures the essence of what occurs in the presence of light and a photosensitive material.