Photon Counting Single Crystal Perovskite X-ray Camera

Over the past decade, hybrid photon counting detectors have radically transformed nanoscale and microscale materials research, and they are poised to have a similar impact on electron microscopy, security screening, and medical imaging. The sensors used for these detectors, however, has significant limitations. For example, Si has low stopping power, Ge requires cryogenic cooling, and the fabrication cost of CdTe and CdZnTe X-ray detectors remains relatively high for mass deployment of large area detectors. Under this SBIR program, we will develop and commercialize a high spatial resolution high efficiency low-cost photon counting X-ray detector using stable high sensitivity perovskite sensors. The major tasks of phase I would be: (a) single crystal sensor optimization, (b) Demonstration of X-ray sensitivity >104 µC-Gyair-1-cm-2, and (c) low-cost single crystal sensor bonding and characterization on a CMOS sensor with pixel pitch <55µm. Scientific and engineering products that are based on photon counting X-ray imaging techniques form the basis for many technologies that directly benefit the public, including medical imaging, non-destructive imaging for materials science and energy research, cultural heritage investigations, metrology, and geophysics. The photon counting X-ray detector to be developed will enable appreciably higher quality medical X-ray scans and improve visualization of anatomic features. They also provide for low-dose X- ray imaging which is an important consideration for children, adolescents and elderly who are radiation sensitive. In the homeland security arena, photon counting detectors in baggage screening can provide more accurate information on the chemical composition of the scanned subject, thereby increasing the overall effectiveness of baggage scanners and reduce the number of false positive flags which necessitate secondary inspection. These detectors are also expected to strongly impact a wide range of scientific areas such as high energy and nuclear physics experiment.