Perovskite radiation detectors
Paul Sellin’s research team develops perovskite materials for radiation detection applications. We study the fundamental electrical and optical properties of perovskite materials and their interaction with radiation, and we assess their performance as radiation detectors in application areas such as medical imaging, environmental monitoring, and nuclear security.
Research leads
Professor Paul Sellin
Professor of Physics
Overview
Perovskite materials have many unique properties that make them well-suited for use as radiation detectors. These include perovskite single crystals for use as X-ray and gamma spectroscopy detectors, polycrystalline perovskite X-ray imaging detectors, and perovskite scintillators. The ability of perovskites to perform as both semiconductor and scintillation detectors creates a wide range of possible device configurations and detection applications.
We study both the synthesis of perovskites using low-temperature solution-growth methods plus fundamental aspects of charge transport and light emission in perovskites, for their application as radiation detectors. By engineering the perovskite material composition their electrical and optical performance can be altered to suit different types of radiation detector applications.
Single Crystal perovskite detectors
The application of perovskite single crystal for use as X-ray and gamma spectroscopy detectors, principally focused on lead halide perovskites grown using solution methods. Projects include optimisation of crystal growth methods, studies of charge transport in single crystals, and development of prototype X-ray and gamma detectors.
Polycrystalline perovskite X-ray imaging detectors
The development of sintered polycrystalline perovskite films for use as semiconductor X-ray imging detectors. This work focussed on the use of polycrystalline perovskite material as a technology for large-scale imaging sensors, with fundamental studies of the structural, electronic and optical properties of sintered perovskite material.
Perovskite scintillators
The application of perovskites as scintillator-based radiation detectors covers a range of different perovskite material systems, include lead halide nano-particles, nanocomposite perovskite/plastic films, and the use of structured ‘2D’ perovskite materials.