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Fast X-ray detectors based on bulk β-Ga2O3 (Fe)

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Abstract

(010) EFG-grown Fe-doped β-Ga2O3 was tested as a low-noise X-ray detector with Ti/Au electrodes vertical structure. Its performance at low, high and no applied voltages was examined. The fabricated detector showed high X-ray detection performance manifested in its signal’s short fall and rise time (< 0.3 s) in all operation modes, showing two orders of magnitude decrease in response time of β-Ga2O3 X-ray detectors. The same temporal response was exhibited by a tested Au/Ni/β-Ga2O3/Ti/Au device. The detector’s signal is also characterized by excellent linear relation with X-ray tube current and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) optimized at − 5 V (> 103). Moreover, the X-ray-induced current signal exhibits high stability. Sub-band UV photocurrent signal showed a significantly slower response compared to X-ray-induced conductivity signal. Possible charge transport mechanisms involving ion migration are suggested and discussed. In this study, Fe doping is shown to significantly improve X-ray detection performance of Ga2O3, consolidating the applicability of Ga2O3 as a next-generation X-ray detector functioning with low power, high SNR and linearity, and significantly improved transient characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

We would thank the support from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This work was performed in part at the Analytical Instrumentation Facility (AIF) at North Carolina State University, which is supported by the State of North Carolina and the National Science Foundation (Award Number ECCS-1542015). The AIF is a member of the North Carolina Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN), a site in the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA

    Ibrahim Hany & Ge Yang

  2. Analytical Instrumentation Facility, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Ching-Chang Chung

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  1. Ibrahim Hany
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Correspondence to Ge Yang.

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Hany, I., Yang, G. & Chung, CC. Fast X-ray detectors based on bulk β-Ga2O3 (Fe). J Mater Sci 55, 9461–9469 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04665-9

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