Heterovalent-Doped Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> Glass for Large-Area Sensitive X-ray Detection and Imaging.

Li, Dongdong; Sui, Xin Yuan; Liu, Da; Wei, Zhanpeng; Li, Qing; Zhu, Yan; Chen, Guocan; Zhu, Yuchen et al. · Nano Lett · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Flat-panel X-ray detectors are indispensable in a variety of imaging applications ranging from medical radiography to industrial inspections. Current commercial detectors (α-Se/CdTe) suffer from unsatisfactory image contrast and high-dose X-ray exposure owing to the limited attenuation and charge collection. Here, we show that heterovalent-doped Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> glass (α-Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>) can effectively convert X-ray photons to electrical current signals. SnI<sub>2</sub> doping modifies the Sb-S network and stabilizes the noncrystalline structure, enabling bulk α-Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> with a narrow bandgap (1.66 eV), large mobility-lifetime product (5.6 × 10<sup>-5</sup> cm<sup>2</sup> V<sup>-1</sup>), and strong radiation attenuation capacity simultaneously. The α-Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-based detector exhibits a high sensitivity of 4397 μC Gy<sup>1-</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup>, a low detection limit of 66 nGy s<sup>-1</sup>, and excellent stability. Thermally evaporated α-Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> on a pixelated thin film transistor (TFT) backplane enables high-resolution X-ray imaging. This is the first demonstration of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-based X-ray detection and imaging, creating new possibilities for the development of amorphous semiconducting materials and devices.