Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Abstract

The development of nanoscale X-ray sensors is of crucial importance to achieve higher spatial resolution in many X-ray-based techniques playing a key role in materials science, healthcare, and security. Here, we demonstrate X-ray detection using individual CdS, SnO2, and ZnO nanowires (NWs). The NWs were produced via vapor–liquid–solid technique and characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Electrical measurements were performed under ambient conditions while exposing two-terminal NW-based devices to X-rays generated by a conventional tungsten anode X-ray tube. Fast and stable nanoampere-range X-ray beam induced current (XBIC) in response to X-ray illumination was observed. The high XBIC measured in the NW devices could be attributed to the efficient transport and collection of generated charge carriers due to the single-crystalline nature of NWs and the short NW length. Such fast-response and high-sensitivity nanoscale X-ray detectors can find applications in sub-micron resolution imaging and nanofocused beam shape measurements.--//--This is the preprint version of the following article: Edgars Butanovs, Aleksejs Zolotarjovs, Alexei Kuzmin, Boris Polyakov; Nanoscale X-ray detectors based on individual CdS, SnO and ZnO nanowires, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment: Volume 1014, 21 October 2021, 165736, which has been published in final form at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016890022100721X. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Elsevier Terms and Conditions for Sharing and Self-Archiving. This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND license.