Researchers have developed a highly sensitive and foldable X-ray detector that produces high-quality images while using lower doses of radiation.

To create the detector, the researchers utilized methylammonium lead bromide perovskite crystals, arranged in a cascade configuration to reduce background noise, or "dark current." This adjustment significantly improved the detector’s sensitivity, lowering detection limits by a factor of five compared to previous designs. Radiographs produced with the new detector showed intricate details, such as the interior of a USB cable and a metal needle piercing a raspberry.

The findings, published in ACS Central Science, could lead to advancements in imaging technology by reducing exposure to ionizing radiation.
“This advancement reduces detection limits and paves the way for safer and more energy-efficient medical imaging and industrial monitoring,” said Omar F. Mohammed, the study’s corresponding author from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). “It demonstrates that cascade-engineered devices enhance the capabilities of single crystals in X-ray detection.”

The enhanced sensitivity of the device allows for effective imaging with fewer X-rays, offering benefits for patients and technicians by minimizing radiation exposure. In addition to healthcare, the technology could have applications in industrial monitoring, where subtle details are critical for quality control.

The researchers highlighted the potential for their technology to lead to safer, foldable, and more sensitive commercial X-ray devices.

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