Descripción del proyecto
Semiconductores innovadores para obtención de imágenes con rayos X con menores efectos en la salud
El uso de rayos X en medicina, seguridad y ciencia va en aumento. Sin embargo, esto también incrementa la exposición a los rayos X ionizantes, que pueden afectar directamente a la salud. En este sentido, el equipo del proyecto X-PECT, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, pretende desarrollar materiales que faciliten detectores de rayos X más sensibles, lo que reducirá las dosis de radiación operativas. Los semiconductores de perovskita de haluro metálico (MHP, por sus siglas en inglés) son prometedores para la detección sensible de rayos X debido a su absorción de rayos X sólidos de alta energía y a su generación y transporte de portadores de carga eficientes. El objetivo de X-PECT es crear MHP sin plomo altamente sensibles y sostenibles para mitigar los riesgos para la salud relacionados con los rayos X. En el proyecto se transformarán los materiales candidatos seleccionados en un dispositivo demostrador de rayos X pixelado, estable y modulable, que se espera ofrezca una mejora de veinte a cincuenta veces en sensibilidad y resolución.
Objetivo
X-rays are widely applied in medical diagnostics, security screening and scientific research. The growing demand for X-ray imaging has increased the frequency with which humans are exposed to ionizing X-rays, directly increasing radiation-related health risks. To minimize these health risks, X-PECT aims to rationally design materials that enable more sensitive X-ray detectors, thus allowing the use of lower operational radiation doses. Metal halide perovskite (MHP) semiconductors have emerged as a highly promising material class for sensitive X-ray detection. Besides their easy processing, the popularity of MHPs arises from their outstanding optoelectronic properties, such as strong high-energy X-ray absorption, and efficient charge carrier generation and transport, outperforming current market standards. However, the intrinsic instability and toxicity of popular lead-based MHPs hinders their large-scale application in sustainable X-ray technology. X-PECT aims for a fundamental understanding of the intrinsic strengths and limitations of MHPs as photoactive material for X-ray detection. In this context, X-PECT will address urging scientific hurdles related to toxicity, structural and chemical stability, intrinsic charge carrier transport efficiency, and processing efforts. The ultimate goal of X-PECT is to rationally develop highly sensitive, sustainable lead-free MHPs through micromanaging their electronic structure by composition and dimensionality engineering. Tailoring their functionality will be guided by applying a full arsenal of both established characterization techniques and unique (micro)spectroscopy platforms for the full assessment of the structural and photophysical properties to identify and suppress the factor(s) currently limiting the X-ray sensitivity and stability. Ultimately, selected candidate materials will be processed into a stable, scalable pixelated X-ray demonstrator device with a 20- to 50-fold improved sensitivity and resolution.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitución de acogida
3000 Leuven
Bélgica