Low-cost X-ray detectors with high performance, durability, and flexibility, are required for a wide range of applications in several fields, such as medical (diagnostic radiology, imaging, etc.), nondestructive testing (radioscopic inspections, radiography testing, etc.), security and defence (baggage/body scanning systems, paper mail, etc.), nuclear and radiation industries (nuclear power plants, research reactors, users of nuclear gauges, etc.), and research and development. [1] X-ray detection using semiconductors, based on the direct generation of electrical signals by X-rays (i.e., direct scheme), offers better spatial resolution and a simpler route than indirect schemes, in which X-rays are converted into photons by scintillating phosphors before detection by photodiode arrays. [2] Currently, the conventional materials used for direct conversion of X-rays include stabilized amorphous Se (α-Se), PbI 2 , HgI 2 , CdTe, and CdZnTe. [3] Metal halide perovskites represent a family of the most promising materials for fascinating photovoltaic and photodetector applications due to their unique optoelectronic properties and much needed simple and low-cost fabrication process. The high atomic number (Z) of their constituents and significantly higher carrier mobility also make perovskite semiconductors suitable for the detection of ionizing radiation. By taking advantage of that, the direct detection of soft-X-ray-induced photocurrent is demonstrated in both rigid and flexible detectors based on all-inorganic halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) synthesized via a solution process. Utilizing a synchrotron soft-X-ray beamline, high sensitivities of up to 1450 µC Gy air −1 cm −2 are achieved under an X-ray dose rate of 0.0172 mGy air s −1 with only 0.1 V bias voltage, which is about 70-fold more sensitive than conventional α-Se devices. Furthermore, the perovskite film is printed homogeneously on various substrates by the inexpensive inkjet printing method to demonstrate large-scale fabrication of arrays of multichannel detectors. These results suggest that the perovskite QDs are ideal candidates for the detection of soft X-rays and for large-area flat or flexible panels with tremendous application potential in multidimensional and different architectures imaging technologies.

We report room temperature ferromagnetism in partially hydrogenated epitaxial graphene grown on 4HSiC(0001). The presence of ferromagnetism was confirmed by superconducting quantum interference devices measurements. Synchrotron-based near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements have been used to investigate the hydrogenation mechanism on the epitaxial graphene and the origin of room temperature ferromagnetism. The partial hydrogenation induces the formation of unpaired electrons in graphene, which together with the remnant delocalized π bonding network, can explain the observed ferromagnetism in partially hydrogenated epitaxial graphene.

CuWO4 is an n-type oxide semiconductor with a bandgap of 2.2 eV which exhibits great potential for photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels.

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