Speaker
Description
Metal halide perovskite detectors have been extensively investigated in recent years, particularly for photon detection (e.g. vis-UV, X-ray, γ-ray), owing to their excellent optoelectronic properties, high absorption coefficients, and defect tolerance. Only more recently, their potential has been explored for the detection of other types of ionizing radiation, including charged particles (protons, alpha particles, and electrons) and neutrons. In this context, a key advantage of perovskite-based devices deposited from solution lies in their intrinsic versatility, which allows the detection mechanism to be tailored either through the correct selection of the most suitable active material or by the specific functionalization of the device architecture and layers, thereby enabling sensitivity to different types of radiation characterized by distinct interaction mechanisms with matter.
The detection of fast neutrons is crucial for several applications, including medical imaging, radiation therapy, and non-destructive inspection. However, neutron detection remains challenging due to their charge neutrality and the resulting low interaction cross-section with matter. In solid-state detectors, fast neutron detection typically relies on elastic scattering processes, where kinetic energy is transferred to the detector material. Hybrid organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites are particularly promising in this regard: the presence of low-Z organic components enhances the efficiency of energy transfer via elastic scattering, while the inorganic framework efficiently collects the energy deposited by recoil particles.
Here [1], we report on flexible, thin-film detectors based on the 2D perovskite PEA₂PbBr₄, deposited from solution onto gold interdigitated electrodes in a coplanar configuration on polyimide substrates. These devices demonstrate direct fast neutron detection, providing an electrical signal proportional to neutron flux. By optimizing the deposition process, we achieved stable and reproducible real-time monitoring under neutron irradiation (energy range 1–4 MeV, flux 0.4–3 × 10⁵ n s⁻¹). Furthermore, the reduced thickness of the perovskite layer (1–4 µm) limits γ-ray interactions, improving neutron/gamma discrimination compared to bulk single-crystal devices.
The detection of thermal neutrons is equally crucial for applications such as nuclear safety, reactor monitoring, and emerging radiotherapy techniques like Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). In this case, the detection mechanism relies on neutron capture processes in high cross-section materials, and recent studies have begun to demonstrate the feasibility of perovskite-based direct detectors by translating established concepts from silicon-based technologies to this novel material platform. Here we will show preliminary results on thermal neutron detection by integrating 10B-based converting structures within the 2-termanal solid state detector already employed for fast neutrons. The high thermal neutron capture cross-section of 10B enables efficient conversion of thermal neutrons into charged particles, which can then be detected by the perovskite layer. This strategy highlights the versatility of perovskite-based platforms, where material and device functionalization can be combined to target different neutron energy ranges within a unified technological framework.
Overall, these results demonstrate that perovskite thin-film devices represent a promising and highly adaptable platform for neutron detection, with potential applications in compact, flexible, and wearable dosimetry systems capable of real-time radiation monitoring.
[1] Fratelli I., B. Fraboni et al., (2025). Adv. Funct. Mat., adfm.202502530.