A team of scientists from the University of Utah, headed by Olena Maslyanchuk, has achieved a breakthrough in medical and industrial imaging. The researchers first synthesized bismuth-based organic-inorganic hybrid materials which produce extremely sensitive and environment-friendly X-ray detectors. This breakthrough represents a potential shift in X-ray detection technology, leveraging two newly explored materials: [(CH3CH2)3S]6Bi8I30 and [(CH3CH2)3S]AgBiI5. Based on the astounding success of recent halide perovskites in opto-electronic devices, these materials exhibit exceptional efficiency in X-ray detection applications.
Allan Starkholm did his primary research on these cutting-edge materials while preparing his Ph.D. dissertation. He conducted this investigation while at the Royal Institute of Technology, in Stockholm, Sweden. For this multidisciplinary work, the team is collaborating with Dr. Felix Lang from Potsdam University. They’re testing the suitability of these gamma ray materials for real-world applications, most notably in portable X-ray detection systems.
Exceptional Sensitivity and Performance
Additionally, bismuth-based hybrid materials show sensitivities two orders of magnitude better than those of traditional commercial detectors. This even extends to materials that are well adopted such as amorphous selenium and cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe). These new detectors are much more sensitive. This technological improvement allows them to accurately detect X-ray doses that are almost 50 times lower than the doses currently employed in available commercial technologies.
While testing, the research team generated polycrystalline powder from the samples. They subsequently densified it into dense pellets with a diameter of 10mm. All samples were subsequently analyzed at the KMC-3 XPP beamline at BESSY II, L. A. synchrotron radiation facility located in Berlin, Germany. The outcome of these experiments demonstrated that these materials have improved sensitivity over currently commercial detectors. They prove to be great over long stretches of time.
Environmentally Friendly Fabrication
One of the most surprising things about the new bismuth-based hybrid materials is how non-toxic, not to mention cheap, they are to fabricate. Our production method is in full compliance with the principles of green chemistry, greatly minimizing the ecological footprint of conventional manufacturing processes utilized for X-ray detectors. This last point is especially relevant as more and more sectors are making environmental sustainability key to their business practices.
This research has now been published in the journal Advanced Materials. It’s an exciting demonstration of how these cutting-edge materials might transform X-ray detection. The study’s DOI is 10.1002/adma.202418626.
Future Collaborations and Development
Maslyanchuk and her team look forward to working with innovative companies in Adlershof, Germany, to strengthen those transnational ties. They envision these collaborations helping bolster the development and commercialization of their X-ray detectors. They believe that partnerships with industry leaders can facilitate the transition of these advanced materials from laboratory research into practical applications.
Together, X-ray detection is greatly enhanced by this research. Beyond making the production of printed circuits greener, it lays the groundwork for producing other environment-friendly materials used in everything from sensors to smartphones. As industries look for more sustainable approaches to their needs, the new bismuth-based hybrid materials are a sustainable alternative with concrete benefits.