Researchers from the University of Florida and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory set out to improve global nuclear security by enhancing radiation detectors, and discovered, after evaluating a diverse list of over 60 candidates for alternative semiconductor compounds, that a hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite has the highest potential to succeed.
Better sensors can improve equipment used for detecting and identifying radioactive materials. (Image credit: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
The scientists reported that the identification of better sensor materials and the development of smarter algorithms to process detector signals are essential to enhance radiation detectors. Paul Johns, Physicist, University of Florida, said: "The end users of radiation detectors don't necessarily have a background in physics that allows them to make decisions based on the signals that come in. The algorithms used to energy-stabilize and identify radioactive isotopes from a gamma ray spectrum are therefore key to making detectors useful and reliable".
At present, there is no single radiation detector ideal for every application. Since signal resolution, size, weight, and cost are all factors, developing the perfect detector has been found to be highly difficult.
Johns and co-researcher Juan Nino analyzed a list of potential compounds for room-temperature semiconductor detectors, which do not require cooling down a sensor to cryogenic temperatures in order for them to work properly and recognized many prime candidates. The authors took into account the practicality, efficiency, and cost of each compound when selecting between them.
Hybrid perovskites can be easily produced and cultured using solution over the course of only a few hours to a couple of days in contrast to the weeks or months required to make traditional sensors.
Due to their yield, cost efficiency, and output rate, the authors think that if their stability can be enhanced, these compounds will be at the front line of room-temperature semiconductor detector research.
Johns added: "Preventing radioactive materials from being used for harmful purposes is a global nuclear security challenge. Equipping law enforcement and first responders with the best possible radiation detectors is key to detecting, identifying and, ultimately, prohibiting radioactive threats".
Radiation sensors must be kept updated in order to prevent nuclear terrorism and the acquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction. Johns and Nino hope to improve global security via enhancements to room-temperature semiconductor compounds.
