Perovskite optical sensors

A technology for producing pixel array sensors based on single perovskite crystals. The technique allows single crystals of the desired geometry to be grown on conductive substrates, to create vertical arrays of microcrystals that function like the pixels of a traditional image sensor.

How does it work?

A microfluidic technique is employed to grow perovskite crystals on a suitably shaped conductive substrate. Growth takes place vertically and allows a wide variety of geometries to be created, with pixels of various shapes and periodic or non-periodic arrays. This allows the sensor shape to be designed for specific applications including X-ray or gamma-ray sensors, medical imaging or the creation of visible light imaging sensors.

Advantages

• High-quality perovskite single crystals are obtained
• Possibility of growing tall and narrow crystals (very high appearance ratio)
• It is a single-step process, therefore simple and inexpensive
• The thickness and geometry of the crystal to be obtained can be defined a priori
• The process takes place at room temperature and allows it to be applied to polymeric and/or flexible substrates.

Possible applications

• Photon detectors both in the visible range and at higher energies (UV/X-rays/Gamma rays)
• X-ray pixel array detectors
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) gamma-ray detectors
• Low-cost image sensors for medical, industrial or consumer imaging applications