High-sensitivity X-ray detectors based on solution-grown caesium lead bromide single crystals

X-ray detection is of great significance for medical diagnostics, industrial non-destructive inspection, nuclear plants and scientific research. However, high sensitivity is needed for X-ray detectors to reduce the radiation dose applied to human bodies for the applications of medical imaging and security checks. Here, we reported sensitive X-ray detectors made of solution-grown inorganic lead perovskite CsPbBr₃ single crystals and the synthesis of high-quality inorganic lead perovskite CsPbBr₃ single crystals using an improved low temperature solution method, which exhibited high transmittance, mobility and mobility-lifetime products. By designing the detector in an asymmetric electrode configuration, ion migration was effectively suppressed under a high voltage with a low dark current and an outstanding photoresponse. The optimized detector exhibited high sensitivity of 1256 μC Gy^-1 cm^-2 for 80 kVp X-ray detection under a relatively low electric field of 20 V mm^-1, which was 60 times higher than that of commercially used α-Se detectors. Due to its facile synthesis, low cost, long-term stability, and high detection sensitivity, CsPbBr₃ is expected to be an outstanding candidate for commercialized sensitive X-ray detectors.