Low-cost manufacture of flat panel x-ray image detectors using lead halide perovskites

该项目的最终目标是生产新的平板X射线图像探测器(用于乳腺癌的乳房X光检查)，以大大降低成本，提高灵敏度。这将通过用卤化铅钙钛矿取代目前在这些设备中使用的半导体(掺砷非晶态硒)来实现。由于高吸收截面、高载流子迁移率和溶液可加工性的独特组合，这一系列钙钛矿材料对太阳能研究产生了革命性的影响。我们的目标是对X射线图像探测器领域产生类似的影响。由于这些材料可以使用基于解决方案的方法沉积，这些方法既具有成本和能源效率，又具有高度可伸缩性，因此制造成本和能源投入有望大幅降低。此外，这些铅基材料的高X射线吸收截面应该会导致探测器灵敏度的提高。该项目有两个主要研究方向：(1)合成新的钙钛矿材料并评估其作为X射线光导体的潜力；(2)开发用于制造钙钛矿基X射线图像探测器的缝模镀膜技术。如果成功，这项工作将为赞助公司(Analogic Canada)提供世界领先的探测器技术和巨大的竞争优势。

The ultimate goal of this project is to produce new flat panel X-ray image detectors (used in mammographic screening for breast cancer) with increased sensitivity at a substantially reduced cost. This will be achieved by replacing the semiconductor currently used in these devices (arsenic-doped amorphous selenium) with lead halide perovskites. This family of perovskite materials has had a transformative impact on solar energy research, owing to a unique combination of high absorption cross-section, high charge carrier mobility, and solution processability. We aim to have a similar impact on the field of X-ray image detectors. Since these materials can be deposited using solution-based approaches that are both cost- and energy-efficient, as well as highly scalable, large reductions in manufacturing costs and energy inputs are expected. Additionally, the high X-ray absorption cross-section of these lead-based materials should lead to improvements in detector sensitivity. The project has two major research thrusts: (i) the synthesis of new perovskite materials and an evaluation of their potential as X-ray photoconductors; (ii) the development of slot-die coating technology for the fabrication of perovskite-based X-ray image detectors. If successful, this work would give the sponsoring company (Analogic Canada) a world-leading detector technology and a tremendous competitive advantage.