Guiding crystal growth for better radiation sensors

Radiation detection is a key component in a range of fields, from medical imaging to nuclear energy development and environmental analysis. In the past decade, several advancements have been made to growing crystal perovskites using a class of metal halides – methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) – which boasts strong optoelectronic properties and radiation detection capacities. But these approaches can compromise crystal quality and growth reproducibility, and there is still room to “grow.”

Bagci et al. focused on MAPbI₃ perovskites to develop a cyclic growth strategy that significantly improves control of the process. As opposed to restarting crystal growth cycles, the researchers demonstrated they could reuse the same solution and guide dissolution and regrowth cycles to create a more stable growth environment, suppress unwanted crystal formation, and enable consistent production of large, well-ordered crystals.

“We’re not just improving the material,” said author Basak Bagci. “We’re learning how to control its growth in a way that directly translates into better device performance.”

The researchers transformed their materials into working radiation sensors and evaluated their performance, revealing they could detect ionizing radiation at low levels while maintaining stable and reliable operation.

“The level of control is important because even small imperfections can trap charge carriers and reduce performance,” said author Shams Noor.

Minimizing these defects and improving crystal uniformity, the team’s method allows for more consistent and reliable electrical responses, helping improve overall device performance.

“Improving how these crystals grow can have an important impact on developing high-performance sensors, while also opening a path toward scalable and cost-effective technologies,” said author Ge Yang. “This represents an important step toward the broader application of perovskite-based radiation detectors.”

Source: “Growth of MAPbI₃ single crystals for radiation detection and sensor applications,” by Basak A. Bagci, Shams Noor, and Ge Yang, APL Electronic Devices (2026). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0311231 .