Journal Article

Detection of X-ray photons by solution-processed organic-inorganic perovskites

Stangl, Julian, Kriegner, Dominik, Azimi, Hamed, Shrestha, Shreetu, Kovalenko, Maksym V, Heiss, Wolfgang, Richter, Moses, Matt, Gebhard J, Sytnyk, Mykhailo, Brabec, Christoph J, Yakunin, Sergii

2015

Overview

The evolution of real-time medical diagnostic tools such as angiography and computer tomography from radiography based on photographic plates was enabled by the development of integrated solid-state X-ray photon detectors, based on conventional solid-state semiconductors. Recently, for optoelectronic devices operating in the visible and near infrared spectral regions, solution-processed organic and inorganic semiconductors have also attracted immense attention. Here we demonstrate a possibility to use such inexpensive semiconductors for sensitive detection of X-ray photons by direct photon-to-current conversion. In particular, methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (CH NH PbI ) offers a compelling combination of fast photoresponse and a high absorption cross-section for X-rays, owing to the heavy Pb and I atoms. Solution processed photodiodes as well as photoconductors are presented, exhibiting high values of X-ray sensitivity (up to 25 µC mGy cm ) and responsivity (1.9×10 carriers/photon), which are commensurate with those obtained by the current solid-state technology.