Photoconductivity in Tl6SI4: A novel semiconductor for hard radiation detection

Sandy L. Nguyen; Christos D. Malliakas; John A. Peters; Zhifu Liu; Jino Im; Li Dong Zhao; Maria Sebastian; Hosub Jin; Hao Li; Simon Johnsen; Bruce W. Wessels; Arthur J. Freeman; Mercouri G. Kanatzidis

doi:10.1021/cm401406j

Photoconductivity in Tl₆SI₄: A novel semiconductor for hard radiation detection

Sandy L. Nguyen, Christos D. Malliakas, John A. Peters, Zhifu Liu, Jino Im, Li Dong Zhao, Maria Sebastian, Hosub Jin, Hao Li, Simon Johnsen, Bruce W. Wessels, Arthur J. Freeman, Mercouri G. Kanatzidis

Northwestern University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The chemical concept of lattice hybridization was applied to identify new chalcohalide compounds as candidates for X-ray and γ-ray detection. Per this approach, compound semiconductor materials with high density and wide band gaps can be produced that can absorb and detect hard radiation. Here, we show that the mixed chalcogenide-halide compound Tl₆SI₄ is a congruently melting, mechanically robust chalcohalide material with strong photoconductivity response and an impressive room-temperature figure of merit. Tl₆SI₄ crystallizes in the tetragonal P4/mnc space group, with a = 9.1758(13) Å, c = 9.5879(19) Å, V = 807.3(2) Å³, and a calculated density of 7.265 g·cm^-3. The new material requires a more simplified crystal growth compared to the leading system Cd_0.9Zn_0.1Te, which is the benchmark room-temperature hard radiation detector material. We successfully synthesized Tl₆SI₄ crystals to produce detector-grade wafers with high resistivity values (∼10¹⁰ Ω·cm) and high-resolution detection of X-ray spectra from an Ag (22 keV) source.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2868-2877
Number of pages	10
Journal	Chemistry of Materials
Volume	25
Issue number	14
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/cm401406j
Publication status	Published - Jul 23 2013

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Keywords

chalcogenide
crystal growth
radiation detection
wide-gap semiconductors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Chemistry(all)
Chemical Engineering(all)
Materials Chemistry

Cite this

Nguyen, S. L., Malliakas, C. D., Peters, J. A., Liu, Z., Im, J., Zhao, L. D., Sebastian, M., Jin, H., Li, H., Johnsen, S., Wessels, B. W., Freeman, A. J., & Kanatzidis, M. G. (2013). Photoconductivity in Tl₆SI₄: A novel semiconductor for hard radiation detection. Chemistry of Materials, 25(14), 2868-2877. https://doi.org/10.1021/cm401406j

Photoconductivity in Tl₆SI₄ : A novel semiconductor for hard radiation detection. / Nguyen, Sandy L.; Malliakas, Christos D.; Peters, John A.; Liu, Zhifu; Im, Jino; Zhao, Li Dong; Sebastian, Maria; Jin, Hosub; Li, Hao; Johnsen, Simon; Wessels, Bruce W.; Freeman, Arthur J.; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.

In: Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 25, No. 14, 23.07.2013, p. 2868-2877.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Nguyen, Sandy L. ; Malliakas, Christos D. ; Peters, John A. ; Liu, Zhifu ; Im, Jino ; Zhao, Li Dong ; Sebastian, Maria ; Jin, Hosub ; Li, Hao ; Johnsen, Simon ; Wessels, Bruce W. ; Freeman, Arthur J. ; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G. / Photoconductivity in Tl₆SI₄ : A novel semiconductor for hard radiation detection. In: Chemistry of Materials. 2013 ; Vol. 25, No. 14. pp. 2868-2877.

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abstract = "The chemical concept of lattice hybridization was applied to identify new chalcohalide compounds as candidates for X-ray and γ-ray detection. Per this approach, compound semiconductor materials with high density and wide band gaps can be produced that can absorb and detect hard radiation. Here, we show that the mixed chalcogenide-halide compound Tl6SI4 is a congruently melting, mechanically robust chalcohalide material with strong photoconductivity response and an impressive room-temperature figure of merit. Tl6SI4 crystallizes in the tetragonal P4/mnc space group, with a = 9.1758(13) {\AA}, c = 9.5879(19) {\AA}, V = 807.3(2) {\AA}3, and a calculated density of 7.265 g·cm-3. The new material requires a more simplified crystal growth compared to the leading system Cd0.9Zn0.1Te, which is the benchmark room-temperature hard radiation detector material. We successfully synthesized Tl6SI4 crystals to produce detector-grade wafers with high resistivity values (∼1010 Ω·cm) and high-resolution detection of X-ray spectra from an Ag (22 keV) source.",

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Access to Document

10.1021/cm401406j