Energy-Selective X-Ray Detection Using Chemically Tunable High-Z Nanocomposites

Hybrid organic-inorganic materials incorporating high-Z nanocompounds represent an emerging area of research with high, cost-effective potential for radiation detection applications, owing to their ability to enable unprecedented architectures and functional devices. Herein, we introduce a new hybrid system composed of tungstate nanoparticles (SrWO₄ or CdWO₄) blended with P3HT:PCBM, engineered for direct X-ray detection without the need for external bias. The nanocrystalline tungstates were synthesized through a hydrothermal route. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the nanoparticle structure and morphology, respectively. Incorporation of high-Z tungstate nanoparticles was found to substantially enhance detector sensitivity within specific energy ranges, with performance tunable by varying the tungstate composition. The use of the fabricated detectors was demonstrated for both spectroscopic and imaging applications.