Commercialization of the Rapid-Production Growth Method for Affordable Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) Semiconductor

Reduction of the reliance of high-activity commercial and industrial radioactive sources is a nonproliferation goal. The Office of Proliferation Detection is interested in developing replacements for radiological sources to promote the adoption of non-radioisotopic alternative technologies where technically, operationally, and economically feasible. The goal of the DOE in reduction of the reliance on high-activity commercial and industrial radioactive sources in nonproliferation, can be better reached by increasing the detection efficiency and efficacy of radiation detection systems that utilize these sources, consequently reducing the required source activity. CZT has proven to be a valuable material for high-resolution, high detection-efficiency, room-temperature radiation detector that can achieve a resolution of 3x) of industrial-grade material costs by increasing the yield, reducing the growth time, and eliminating post-growth anneal treatments currently used by industry. With the fast production time and high-performance of the CZT produced in this effort, (1) the CZT market will finally have a fast turnaround time and consist high-performance material that be obtained, (2) the US government will have a US vender from which CZT can be purchased for homeland security applications, and (3) US small business will have an affordable, high-performance CZT material that can be obtained for niche radiation detection and imaging instruments and other applications.