PhD Studentship: High light yield perovskite scintillators for Nuclear Security gamma applications

The Surrey team has spent five years developing prototype perovskite radiation detectors. Lead halide perovskites such as CsPbBr₃ and FAPbBr₃ now demonstrate bulk electronic properties suitable for high-quality gamma spectroscopy, with mobility-lifetime values comparable to CZT. Both solution-grown and Bridgman-grown materials offer similar charge transport performance, despite differences in cost, yield and speed. As shown in Figure 1, both materials exhibit strong spectroscopic performance as gamma detectors.

This project builds on recent work at Surrey to optimise crystal growth and improve material crystallinity. Published research demonstrates an enhanced process using the additive DPSI to produce high-quality FAPbBr₃ crystals with low strain density and excellent charge transport. The project will focus on improving detector performance, particularly by enhancing long-term stability and reducing electrochemical degradation of metal electrodes.

The main objectives of the research will be as follows:

1. Growth of high-quality perovskite crystals using Surrey’s optimized solution growth method. You will make a quantitative study of defect concentrations in the crystals using Thermally Stimulated Current (TSC) measurements and compare with Bridgman-grown CsPbBr3.
2. Surface characterisation of interface regions to study the electrochemical reactions between perovskite and contact metal. Using facilities such as time-resolved PL and XPS depth profiling , you will study the metal halide distributions under the metal contact [Cha25].
3. Detector testing with radioisotopes – you will measure the spectroscopic performance and stability of FAPbBr3 and CsPbBr3 prototype detectors fabricated at Surrey, with the aim of significantly extending the device performance for stable operation for in excess of 6 months.

You will be registered on the Surrey Physics PhD program; however you will be working within a multi-disciplinary research team at Surrey. You should have an interest in experimental research, ideally with experience of some aspects of radiation physics, nuclear physics, materials science or materials chemistry. The project will benefit from the excellent radiation physics and materials science facilities at Surrey, including gamma and X-ray spectroscopy, device fabrication, and crystal growth facilities. Additional characterisation methods are available in in Chemistry and Materials Science laboratories, for example Photoluminescence, Raman, Dynamic Light Scattering, SEM/TEM and XRD.

There are opportunities to collaborate internationally, with partners such as Penn State University and the University of Bologna. The project is funded by the RAPTOR Nuclear Skills doctoral award.

The project is funded by the RAPTOR Nuclear Skills doctoral focus award.

You will also collaborate with the Nuclear Threat Reduction network (NTRnet) with the opportunity to participate in NTRnet doctoral training events.