0000000000084205
AUTHOR
Manuele Bettelli
showing 23 related works from this author
Mechanically stable metal layers for ohmic and blocking contacts on CdZnTe detectors by electroless deposition
2015
CdZnTe detectors are commonly exploited for the detection of gamma rays. However, obtaining mechanical stable, low noise contacts on CdZnTe is still an issue. In particular, ohmic contacts would be preferable for high flux applications. In this work, we show that it is possible to obtain mechanical stable gold contacts by electroless deposition in methanol solution. Moreover, we show that electroless deposited nickel contacts are also mechanical stable and are good candidates for the realization of ohmic contacts on high resistivity CdZnTe crystals.
High Bias Voltage CZT Detectors for High-flux Measurements
2017
In this work, we present the performance of new travelling heater method (THM) grown CZT detectors, recently developed at IMEM-CNR Parma, Italy. Thick planar detectors (3 mm thick) with gold electroless contacts on CZT crystals grown by Redlen Technologies (Victoria BC, Canada) were realized, with a planar cathode covering the detector surface (4.1 x 4.1 mm(2)) and a central anode (2 x 2 mm(2)) surrounded by a guard ring electrode. The detectors, characterized by low leakage currents at room temperature (4.7 nA/cm(2) at 1000 V/cm), allow good room temperature operation even at high bias voltages (> 7000 V/cm). At low rates, the detectors exhibit an energy resolution around 4 % FWIEM at 59.5…
Digital CZT detector system for high flux energy-resolved X-ray imaging
2017
Photon counting arrays with energy resolving capabilities are recently desired for the next-generation X-ray imaging systems. In this work, we present the performance of a 2 mm thick CZT pixel detector, with pixel pitches of 500 mu m and 250 mu m, coupled to a fast and low noise ASIC (PIXIE ASIC), characterized by only the preamplifier stage. A 16-channel digital readout electronics was used to continuously digitize and process each output channel from the PIXIE ASIC, performing multi-parameter analysis (event arrival time, pulse shape, pulse height) at low and high input counting rates (ICRs). The spectroscopic response of the system to monochromatic X-ray and gamma ray sources, at both lo…
Development of new CdZnTe detectors for room-temperature high-flux radiation measurements
2017
Recently, CdZnTe (CZT) detectors have been widely proposed and developed for room-temperature X-ray spectroscopy even at high fluxes, and great efforts have been made on both the device and the crystal growth technologies. In this work, the performance of new travelling-heater-method (THM)-grown CZT detectors, recently developed at IMEM-CNR Parma, Italy, is presented. Thick planar detectors (3 mm thick) with gold electroless contacts were realised, with a planar cathode covering the detector surface (4.1 mm × 4.1 mm) and a central anode (2 mm × 2 mm) surrounded by a guard-ring electrode. The detectors, characterized by low leakage currents at room temperature (4.7 nA cm−2 at 1000 V cm−1), a…
Dual-polarity pulse processing and analysis for charge-loss correction in cadmium–zinc–telluride pixel detectors
2018
Charge losses at the inter-pixel gap are typical drawbacks in cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) pixel detectors. In this work, an original technique able to correct charge losses occurring after the application of charge-sharing addition (CSA) is presented. The method, exploiting the strong relation between the energy after CSA and the beam position at the inter-pixel gap, allows the recovery of charge losses and improvements in energy resolution. Sub-millimetre CZT pixel detectors were investigated with both uncollimated radiation sources and collimated synchrotron X-rays, at energies below and above the K-shell absorption energy of the CZT material. The detectors are DC coupled to fast and low…
Electrical properties of Au/CdZnTe/Au detectors grown by the boron oxide encapsulated Vertical Bridgman technique
2016
Abstract In this work we report on the results of electrical characterization of new CdZnTe detectors grown by the Boron oxide encapsulated Vertical Bridgman technique (B-VB), currently produced at IMEM-CNR (Parma, Italy). The detectors, with gold electroless contacts, have different thicknesses (1 and 2.5 mm) and the same electrode layout, characterized by a central anode surrounded by a guard-ring electrode. Investigations on the charge transport mechanisms and the electrical contact properties, through the modeling of the measured current–voltage ( I – V ) curves, were performed. Generally, the detectors are characterized by low leakage currents at high bias voltages even at room tempera…
Advances in High-Energy-Resolution CdZnTe Linear Array Pixel Detectors with Fast and Low Noise Readout Electronics
2023
Radiation detectors based on Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) compounds are becoming popular solutions thanks to their high detection efficiency, room temperature operation, and to their reliability in compact detection systems for medical, astrophysical, or industrial applications. However, despite a huge effort to improve the technological process, CZT detectors’ full potential has not been completely exploited when both high spatial and energy resolution are required by the application, especially at low energies (<10 keV), limiting their application in energy-resolved photon counting (ERPC) systems. This gap can also be attributed to the lack of dedicated front-end electronics whic…
Optimization of quasi-hemispherical CdZnTe detectors by means of first principles simulation
2023
AbstractIn this paper we present the development of quasi-hemispherical gamma-ray detectors based on CdZnTe. Among the possible single-polarity electrode configurations, such as coplanar, pixelated, or virtual Frisch-grid geometries, quasi-hemispherical detectors are the most cost-effective alternative with comparable raw energy resolution in the high and low energy range. The optimal configuration of the sensor in terms of dimension of the crystals and electrode specifications has been first determined by simulations, and successively validated with experimental measures. Spectra from different sources have been acquired to evaluate the detectors performances. Three types of detectors with…
Ballistic Deficit Pulse Processing in Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Pixel Detectors for High-Flux X-ray Measurements.
2022
High-flux X-ray measurements with high-energy resolution and high throughput require the mitigation of pile-up and dead time effects. The reduction of the time width of the shaped pulses is a key approach, taking into account the distortions from the ballistic deficit, non-linearity, and time instabilities. In this work, we will present the performance of cadmium–zinc–telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) pixel detectors equipped with digital shapers faster than the preamplifier peaking times (ballistic deficit pulse processing). The effects on energy resolution, throughput, energy-linearity, time stability, charge sharing, and pile-up are shown. The results highlight the absence of time instabilities …
Energy Recovery of Multiple Charge Sharing Events in Room Temperature Semiconductor Pixel Detectors
2021
Multiple coincidence events from charge-sharing and fluorescent cross-talk are typical drawbacks in room-temperature semiconductor pixel detectors. The mitigation of these distortions in the measured energy spectra, using charge-sharing discrimination (CSD) and charge-sharing addition (CSA) techniques, is always a trade-off between counting efficiency and energy resolution. The energy recovery of multiple coincidence events is still challenging due to the presence of charge losses after CSA. In this work, we will present original techniques able to correct charge losses after CSA even when multiple pixels are involved. Sub-millimeter cadmium–zinc–telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) pixel detectors we…
Charge Sharing and Cross Talk Effects in High-Z and Wide-Bandgap Compound Semiconductor Pixel Detectors
2023
Intense research activities have been made in the development of high-Z and wide-bandgap compound semiconductor pixel detectors for the next generation X-ray and gamma ray spectroscopic imagers. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium-zinc-telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) pixel detectors have shown impressive performance in X-ray and gamma ray detection from energies of few keV up to 1 MeV. Charge sharing and cross-talk phenomena represent the typical drawbacks in sub-millimeter pixel detectors, with severe distortions in both energy and spatial resolution. In this chapter, we review the effects of these phenomena on the response of CZT/CdTe pixel detectors, with particular emphasis on the current st…
Potentialities of High-Resolution 3-D CZT Drift Strip Detectors for Prompt Gamma-Ray Measurements in BNCT
2022
Recently, new high-resolution cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) drift strip detectors for room temperature gamma-ray spectroscopic imaging were developed by our group. The CZT detectors equipped with orthogonal anode/cathode collecting strips, drift strips and dedicated pulse processing allow a detection area of 6 × 20 mm2 and excellent room temperature spectroscopic performance (0.82% FWHM at 661.7 keV). In this work, we investigated the potentialities of these detectors for prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy (PGS) in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The detectors, exploiting the measurement of the 478 keV prompt gamma rays emitted by 94% 7Li nuclides from the 10B(n, α)7…
High performance 3D CZT spectro-imager for BNCT-SPECT: preliminary characterization
2018
The National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) is supporting the 3CaTS project with the aim of developing a new Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) system for real time 10 B therapeutic dose monitoring in the binary experimental hadron therapy called Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). BNCT is a highly selective tumour treatment based on the neutron capture reaction 10 B(n,α) 7 Li. The secondary particles have a high LET with ranges in tissues of the order of 10 μm (thus less than the mean cell diameter of few tens μm). Targeting the 10 B delivery towards cancer, the released energy lethally damages only the malignant cells sparing the normal tissues, thus enabling a cell…
Room-Temperature X-ray response of cadmium-zinc-Telluride pixel detectors grown by the vertical Bridgman technique
2020
In this work, the spectroscopic performances of new cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) pixel detectors recently developed at IMEM-CNR of Parma (Italy) are presented. Sub-millimetre arrays with pixel pitch less than 500 µm, based on boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman grown CZT crystals, were fabricated. Excellent room-temperature performance characterizes the detectors even at high-bias-voltage operation (9000 V cm−1), with energy resolutions (FWHM) of 4% (0.9 keV), 1.7% (1 keV) and 1.3% (1.6 keV) at 22.1, 59.5 and 122.1 keV, respectively. Charge-sharing investigations were performed with both uncollimated and collimated synchrotron X-ray beams with particular attention to the mitigation o…
Improved electroless platinum contacts on CdZnTe X- and γ-rays detectors
2020
AbstractPlatinum is a promising candidate for the realization of blocking electrical contacts on cadmium-zinc-telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) radiation detectors. However, the poor mechanical adhesion of this metal often shortens the lifetime of the final device. In this work, a simple and effective procedure to obtain robust platinum contacts by electroless deposition is presented. Microscopical analysis revealed the final thickness and composition of the contact layer and its adhesion to the bulk crystal. The blocking nature of the Pt-CdZnTe junction, essential to obtain low noise devices, was confirmed by current–voltage measurements. The planar Pt-CdZnTe-Pt detectors showed good room temperat…
X-ray response of CdZnTe detectors grown by the vertical Bridgman technique: Energy, temperature and high flux effects
2016
Abstract Nowadays, CdZnTe (CZT) is one of the key materials for the development of room temperature X-ray and gamma ray detectors and great efforts have been made on both the device and the crystal growth technologies. In this work, we present the results of spectroscopic investigations on new boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman (B-VB) grown CZT detectors, recently developed at IMEM-CNR Parma, Italy. Several detectors, with the same electrode layout (gold electroless contacts) and different thicknesses (1 and 2.5 mm), were realized: the cathode is a planar electrode covering the detector surface (4.1×4.1 mm2), while the anode is a central electrode (2×2 mm2) surrounded by a guard-rin…
Microscale X-ray mapping of CZT arrays: Spatial dependence of amplitude, shape and multiplicity of detector pulses
2018
In this work, we present the results of a microscale X-ray mapping of a 2 mm thick CZT pixel detector, with pixel pitches of 500 μm and 250 μm, using collimated synchrotron X-ray sources at the Diamond Light source (U. K.). The detector is dc coupled to a fast and low noise ASIC (PIXIE ASIC), characterized only by the preamplifier stage. A custom 16-channel digital readout electronics was used, able to perform online fast pulse shape and height analysis (PSHA), with low dead time and reasonable energy resolution at both low and high fluxes. The detector allows high bias voltage operation (> 5000 V/cm) and good energy resolution at room temperature (5.3 %, 2.3 % and 2.1 % FWHM at 22.1, 59…
New Results on High-Resolution 3-D CZT Drift Strip Detectors
2020
Intense research activities have been carry out in the development of room temperature gamma ray spectroscopic imagers, aiming to compete with the excellent energy resolution of high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors (0.3 % FWHM at 662 keV) obtained after cryogenic cooling. Cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) detectors equipped with pixel, strip and virtual Frisch-grid electrode structures represented an appealing solution for room temperature measurements. In this work, we present the performance of new high-resolution CZT drift strip detectors (19.4 x 19.4 x 6 mm3), recently fabricated at IMEM-CNR of Parma (Italy) in collaboration with due2lab company (Reggio Emilia, Italy). The detectors, worki…
Window-Based Energy Selecting X-ray Imaging and Charge Sharing in Cadmium Zinc Telluride Linear Array Detectors for Contaminant Detection
2023
The spectroscopic and imaging performance of energy-resolved photon counting detectors, based on new sub-millimetre boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman cadmium zinc telluride linear arrays, are presented in this work. The activities are in the framework of the AVATAR X project, planning the development of X-ray scanners for contaminant detection in food industry. The detectors, characterized by high spatial (250 µm) and energy (<3 keV) resolution, allow spectral X-ray imaging with interesting image quality improvements. The effects of charge sharing and energy-resolved techniques on contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) enhancements are investigated. The benefits of a new energy-resolved …
Incomplete Charge Collection at Inter-Pixel Gap in Low- and High-Flux Cadmium Zinc Telluride Pixel Detectors.
2022
The success of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors in room-temperature spectroscopic X-ray imaging is now widely accepted. The most common CZT detectors are characterized by enhanced-charge transport properties of electrons, with mobility-lifetime products μeτe > 10−2 cm2/V and μhτh > 10−5 cm2/V. These materials, typically termed low-flux LF-CZT, are successfully used for thick electron-sensing detectors and in low-flux conditions. Recently, new CZT materials with hole mobility-lifetime product enhancements (μhτh > 10−4 cm2/V and μeτe > 10−3 cm2/V) have been fabricated for high-flux measurements (high-flux HF-CZT detectors).…
Room-temperature performance of 3 mm-thick cadmium-zinc-telluride pixel detectors with sub-millimetre pixelization.
2020
Cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) pixel detectors represent a consolidated choice for the development of room-temperature spectroscopic X-ray imagers, finding important applications in medical imaging, often as detection modules of a variety of new SPECT and CT systems. Detectors with 3–5 mm thicknesses are able to efficiently detect X-rays up to 140 keV giving reasonable room-temperature energy resolution. In this work, the room-temperature performance of 3 mm-thick CZT pixel detectors, recently developed at IMEM/CNR of Parma (Italy), is presented. Sub-millimetre detector arrays with pixel pitch less than 500 µm were fabricated. The detectors are characterized by good room-temperature performan…
Digital fast pulse shape and height analysis on cadmium-zinc-telluride arrays for high-flux energy-resolved X-ray imaging.
2017
Cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) arrays with photon-counting and energy-resolving capabilities are widely proposed for next-generation X-ray imaging systems. This work presents the performance of a 2â...mm-thick CZT pixel detector, with pixel pitches of 500 and 250â...μm, dc coupled to a fast and low-noise ASIC (PIXIE ASIC), characterized only by the preamplifier stage. A custom 16-channel digital readout electronics was used, able to digitize and process continuously the signals from each output ASIC channel. The digital system performs on-line fast pulse shape and height analysis, with a low dead-time and reasonable energy resolution at both low and high fluxes. The spectroscopic response …
Recent advances in the development of high-resolution 3D cadmium-zinc-telluride drift strip detectors.
2020
In the last two decades, great efforts have been made in the development of 3D cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) detectors operating at room temperature for gamma-ray spectroscopic imaging. This work presents the spectroscopic performance of new high-resolution CZT drift strip detectors, recently developed at IMEM-CNR of Parma (Italy) in collaboration with due2lab (Italy). The detectors (19.4 mm × 19.4 mm × 6 mm) are organized into collecting anode strips (pitch of 1.6 mm) and drift strips (pitch of 0.4 mm) which are negatively biased to optimize electron charge collection. The cathode is divided into strips orthogonal to the anode strips with a pitch of 2 mm. Dedicated pulse processing analysis…