A new material uses its organic part to produce faster and stronger light under radiation, helping improve speed and efficiency in radiation detectors.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have developed hybrid perovskite materials that produce faster and stronger light under radiation. The advance could improve radiation detectors used for neutron, X ray, and gamma ray sensing.
The main change is in how the material is designed. Instead of depending mostly on the inorganic part of the perovskite crystal, the team enabled the organic component to generate the light. This shift led to up to five times higher light emission compared to the organic molecules alone. The performance is now on par with current fast radiation detectors and could improve further.
Speed matters in radiation detection. When radiation strikes a detector, it must be converted into a light signal almost immediately. Organic materials usually emit light faster than inorganic ones. In earlier studies, most researchers assumed the inorganic framework controlled the key properties of perovskites. This study questions that idea.
The team placed stilbene molecules, known for strong light emission, into specially designed two dimensional layered halide perovskites. Inside this crystal structure, the stilbene molecules performed much better than they do on their own. The surrounding crystal environment enhanced how the molecules responded to radiation, increasing overall light output.
Perovskites are crystalline materials defined by a specific atomic structure and are widely studied for solar cells and optoelectronic devices. Traditionally, research has focused on their inorganic framework. The researchers instead asked whether the useful properties come only from the inorganic part of the structure.
The results show they do not. By combining organic and inorganic components so both play active roles, the material benefits from fast organic emission and structural support from the inorganic framework.
The materials also showed strong environmental stability. Many radiation detecting materials require protective coatings to prevent degradation. These hybrid perovskites remained stable in open air for more than a year without encapsulation.
The study shows that giving the organic component a larger role inside perovskites can improve speed, efficiency, and stability. With further refinement, this approach could support the development of more effective high speed radiation sensors.
