ECCS-EPSRC: A new generation of cost-effective, scalable and stable radiation detectors with ultrahigh detectivity

ECCS-EPSRC：具有超高探测率的新一代经济高效、可扩展且稳定的辐射探测器

• 批准号: 2313755
• 负责人: Quanxi Jia
• 金额: $ 39.9万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Buffalo
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-10-01 至 2026-09-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2313755&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: ECCS; EPSRC; new; generation; cost

This is a joint effort between a U.S. University (Buffalo) and two U.K. Universities (Cambridge and Oxford).Effectively detecting low dose rates of radiation is critical for improving the safety and capability of non-invasive diagnostics, including medical imaging, nuclear security, and product inspection. However, current industry-standard materials (namely amorphous selenium and cadmium zinc telluride) have limited ability to detect X-rays, such that the current medical standard X-ray dose rate is a very high value, and this increases the risk of causing cancer. To improve the safety of medical imaging, as well as to improve the effectiveness of a wide range of other diagnostics involving ionizing radiation, it is essential to engineer new materials capable of detecting lower dose rates of radiation, with stable performance under operation. The collaborative project between the US team (University at Buffalo) and the UK team (University of Oxford and University of Cambridge) is to develop a new generation of cost-effective bismuth-based radiation detectors capable of detecting three orders of magnitude lower dose rates than the current commercial standard. The project will directly address the critical challenge of engineering the materials and the manufacturability for high-performing, operationally stable radiation detectors. The broader technological impacts of this project are built on collaborations with industry and a US national laboratory. Furthermore, the research program is well integrated with education and outreach programs at all three universities, including: 1) training the future workforce with multidisciplinary research skills in an international research environment; 2) implementing cutting-edge research in novel materials and devices in materials science and engineering curricula through teaching; 3) disseminating research findings to broader audiences through outreach programs; and 4) increasing diversity and broad participation of under-represented minority groups from local communities, contributing to strengthening and expanding the future STEM workforce in both US and UK and enhancing society awareness of development of state-of-the-art radiation detection technology.Significantly improved performance of radiation detectors has recently been achieved with lead-halide perovskite single crystals. However, the high lead (Pb) content exceeds the maximum limit set in many jurisdictions (including in the US and UK), and the facile ionic conductivity in these materials limits the range of electric fields that can be applied, thus limiting their operational stability. This proposal will address the challenges of current X-ray detectors, including the use of toxic elements, limited performance, high manufacturing costs, and limited charge-carrier transport. Our preliminary results have shown that BiOI can be the ideal non-toxic alternative to the Pb-based perovskites for next generation radiation detectors with ultrahigh detectivity because of its heavy elements, large mobility-lifetime products, and high resistivities. To transfer this technology to industry and to have an impact on medical imaging and nuclear security, we will further 1) improve the mobility-lifetime product to well above 6±2 x 10-2 cm2 V-1 s-1 through compositional engineering, 2) increase the size of the detectors by an order of magnitude (from 5 mm currently) without compromising on performance, and 3) optimize the device architecture and imaging performance. The overall aim of this joint research between US team (University at Buffalo) and the UK team (University of Oxford and University of Cambridge) is to develop a new generation of cost-effective, stable and up-scaled bismuth-based radiation detectors capable of detecting three orders of magnitude lower dose rates than the current commercial standard.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这是一所美国大学（布法罗）和两所英国大学的共同努力。大学（剑桥和牛津）：有效检测低剂量率辐射对于提高非侵入性诊断的安全性和能力至关重要，包括医学成像、核安全和产品检查。然而，目前的行业标准材料（即非晶硒和碲锌镉）对X射线的探测能力有限，使得目前的医学标准X射线剂量率是一个很高的值，这增加了致癌的风险。为了提高医学成像的安全性，以及提高涉及电离辐射的广泛的其他诊断的有效性，必须设计能够检测较低剂量率的辐射的新材料，并在操作中具有稳定的性能。美国团队（布法罗大学）和英国团队（牛津大学和剑桥大学）之间的合作项目是开发新一代具有成本效益的铋基辐射探测器，能够探测比当前商业标准低三个数量级的剂量率。该项目将直接解决高性能、操作稳定的辐射探测器的材料工程和可制造性的关键挑战。该项目更广泛的技术影响建立在与工业界和美国国家实验室的合作基础上。此外，该研究计划与所有三所大学的教育和推广计划很好地结合在一起，包括：1）在国际研究环境中培养具有多学科研究技能的未来劳动力; 2）通过教学在材料科学与工程课程中实施新材料和设备的前沿研究; 3）通过推广计划向更广泛的受众传播研究成果;以及4）增加来自当地社区的代表性不足的少数群体的多样性和广泛参与，有助于加强和扩大美国和英国未来的STEM劳动力，并提高社会对最先进的辐射探测技术发展的认识。最近，铅卤化物钙钛矿单晶实现了辐射探测器性能的显著改善。然而，高铅（Pb）含量超过了许多司法管辖区（包括美国和英国）设定的最大限值，并且这些材料中的易离子导电性限制了可以应用的电场范围，从而限制了其操作稳定性。该提案将解决当前X射线探测器面临的挑战，包括使用有毒元素、性能有限、制造成本高和电荷载流子传输有限。我们的初步研究结果表明，BiOI可以是理想的无毒的替代铅基钙钛矿的下一代辐射探测器的探测能力，因为它的重元素，大的迁移率寿命的产品，和高的电导率。为了将这项技术转移到工业上并对医学成像和核安全产生影响，我们将进一步1）通过成分工程将迁移率-寿命乘积提高到远高于6±2 x 10-2 cm 2 V-1 s-1，2）将探测器的尺寸增加一个数量级（目前为5 mm）而不影响性能，以及3）优化设备架构和成像性能。美国研究小组与美国研究小组联合研究的总体目标是，（布法罗大学）和英国队（牛津大学和剑桥大学）是为了开发新一代具有成本效益，稳定和放大的铋-该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为是值得支持的，使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估。