Efficient, low-cost, high-performance radiation imaging using crystalline perovskite active materials

In this SBIR project, we will develop an efficient, low-cost, rad-hard imager of ionizing radiation (focusing primarily on gamma-rays during Phase I but also expanding to fast neutrons during Phase II) that has high angular ( 5 cm3) perovskite solids.   Note that we have previously developed two such scalable growth methods: Field-Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST) and Axially-Forced Convection (AFC) growth techniques to grow large perovskite solids. During this project, these two methods will be optimized and compared for their ability to grow high-quality perovskites. While optimizing the growth techniques, we will also evaluate the sensors’ radiation survivability and develop the device architecture and deposition strategies needed to form stable, rectifying p-i-n contacts to perovskites, building on our previous work on low-temperature cast rectifying contacts. The problems caused by high detector capacitance (up to 100 nF cm-2 for perovskite detectors) on commercial readout circuitry will be addressed by designing a customized capacitance-insensitive preamplifier by optimizing a previous design we developed. When combined, the successful demonstration of our Phase I work will prove the feasibility of low-cost, high-energy, high-performance perovskite imagers.