Descrizione del progetto
Semiconduttori innovativi per immaginografia a raggi X a ridotto impatto sulla salute
L’uso dell’immaginografia a raggi X nei settori medico, della sicurezza e scientifico è in aumento. con una conseguente crescita dell’esposizione ai raggi X ionizzanti, che possono avere un impatto diretto sulla salute. In quest’ottica, il progetto X-PECT, finanziato dal CER, si propone di sviluppare materiali che facilitino il lavoro dei rilevatori di raggi X più sensibili, riducendo così le dosi di radiazioni operative. I semiconduttori a perovskite di alogenuri metallici (MHP, Metal Halide Perovskite) promettono di consentire il rilevamento sensibile dei raggi X grazie all’ottimo assorbimento di raggi X ad alta energia e all’efficiente generazione e trasporto di vettori di carica. X-PECT intende creare MHP senza piombo altamente sensibili e sostenibili per mitigare i rischi per la salute legati ai raggi X. Il progetto trasformerà i materiali candidati selezionati in un dispositivo dimostrativo a raggi X pixellato stabile e scalabile, che dovrebbe migliorare la sensibilità e la risoluzione tra 20 e 50 volte.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsIstituzione ospitante
3000 Leuven
Belgio