A team led by FSU’s Biwu Ma developed a hybrid material that generates electric signals when exposed to X-rays, enabling direct X-ray detection. Current detectors are constructed from inorganic materials that contain toxic elements and require energy-intensive processing. The new material has both organic and inorganic components.

These organic metal halide complexes can be synthesized from abundant non-toxic raw materials. “This is actually the first time these OMHC materials have been used to fabricate direct X-ray detectors,” says Ma. “They can be prepared in a low-cost way while delivering high performance. From a sustainability perspective, this new class of materials offer tremendous advantages.”

• Biwu Ma