Stable and Printable Direct X-Ray Detectors Based on Micropyramid ω-Bi2O3 With Low Detection Limit

Abstract

Direct X-ray detection plays an indispensable role in medical and industrial development. However, developing a stable, low-cost, and sensitive direct X-ray detector is highly desired for future commercial application. In this work, a direct X-ray detector using a straightforward digital printing fabrication process based on nontoxic micropyramid triclinic bismuth oxide ( $\omega $ -Bi{2}O{3}}{) ink is reported. The printed device exhibits a low detection limit of 56.95 $\mu $ Gy $_{\text {air}}\,\,\text{s}^{-{1}}$ with a sensitivity of $3.077~\mu \text{C}$ Gy $_{\text {air}}^{-{1}}$ cm $^{-{2}}$ at 20 V bias voltage, which is better than most of the metal oxide-based direct X-ray detectors reported so far. Furthermore, the $\omega $ -Bi2O3 based X-ray detector shows excellent stability without packaging for eight months and exposure to a dose of 5120 mGyair equivalent to 25 000 chest X-ray scans. The applicability of our array device printed in a direct patterning method as an X-ray imaging detector is shown. Our findings inform a qualified competitor in the medical and industrial fields in the future.