Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

This project represents a first step toward the production of new flat panel X-ray image detectors (used inx000D
mammographic screening for breast cancer) with increased sensitivity at a substantially reduced cost. This willx000D
be achieved by replacing the semiconductor currently used in these devices (arsenic-doped amorphousx000D
selenium) with lead halide perovskites. This family of perovskite materials has had a transformative impact onx000D
solar energy research, owing to a unique combination of high absorption cross-section, high charge carrierx000D
mobility, and solution processability. We aim to have a similar impact on the field of X-ray image detectors.x000D
Since these materials can be deposited using solution-based approaches that are both cost- and energy-efficient,x000D
as well as highly scalable, large reductions in manufacturing costs and energy inputs are expected.x000D
Additionally, the high X-ray absorption cross-section of these lead-based materials should lead tox000D
improvements in detector sensitivity. The industrial partner (Analogic Canada) would like to developx000D
perovskite photoconductors for X-ray image detectors, but lacks the technology and know-how to depositx000D
relatively thick films of this material at scale. This project aims to fill that knowledge gap; we will developx000D
processing conditions suitable for the large-scale deposition of lead halide perovskites.