AlxGa1−xN (0≤x≤0.50) ultraviolet photoconductors with a minimum cutoff wavelength shorter than 260 nm have been fabricated and characterized. The AlGaN active layers were grown on (00⋅1) sapphire substrates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The spectral responsivity of the GaN detector at 360 nm is about 1 A/W biased at 8 V at room temperature. The carrier lifetime derived from the voltage‐dependent responsivity is 0.13–0.36 ms. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.