Engineering Perovskite Single Crystals for Gamma Spectrometry

In this project, we propose to identify and examine solution growth approaches for engineering perovskite single crystal for gamma spectrometry in a hand-held sensor format. We will demonstrate that the solution growth approach is able to produce perovskite single crystal in sufficient volume and quality to yield a detector crystal whose utilization presents no inherent environmental, health, or safety hazard to the operator, a physical envelope comparable to commercially-available radiation detection materials, relative efficiency that is at least 33%, energy resolution is below 3%, and production cost is comparable to commercially-available NaI. We will summarize the currently used materials in commercially-available gamma spectrometers, and recently development of perovskite single crystals for gamma spectrometers. Based on the summarization, we will discuss the advantages of proposed perovskite single crystal over those materials used in commercially-available gamma spectrometers. We will develop and demonstrate a process flow concept, produce a sample of perovskite single crystal that can be tested, produce supporting documentation with preliminary test data that establishes cost and performance baselines that will mitigate risk for a potential Phase II effort.