Resolving the Energy of γ-Ray Photons with MAPbI3 Single Crystals

Halide perovskites exhibit remarkably high-performance as semiconductors compared to conventional materials because of an unusually favorable combination of optoelectronic properties. We demonstrate here that solution-grown single-crystals of organic inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI(3)), implemented in a Schottky-type device design, can produce outstanding hard radiation detectors with high spectral response and low dark current for the first time: Schottky-type MAPbI(3) detector achieves an excellent energy resolution of 6.8% for Co-57 122 keV gamma ray. The high detector performance is achieved due to the balanced charge collection efficiency for both electrons and holes, reflected in the high mobility-lifetime (mu tau) products of both carriers (similar to 0.8 X 10(-3) cm(2)/V). MAPbI(3) also demonstrates remarkably long electron and hole lifetimes (tau(e) = 10 mu s and tau(h) = 17/mu s) and impressive operational stability over time. Furthermore, dual-source detection of alpha particle (5.5 MeV) and gamma-ray (59.5 keV) from the Am-241 radiation source is achieved simultaneously by Schottky-type MAPbI(3) detector. These results reveal the great potential of MAPbI(3) as a high-performance, low-cost radiation detection material.