Lead Iodide Crystals as Input Material for Radiation Detectors

Sunil Kumar Chaudhary

Department of Physics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, India.

DOI: 10.4236/csta.2012.13004                

Abstract

Lead iodide is an important inorganic solid for fundamental research and possible technological applications and is considered to be a potential room temperature nuclear radiation detector. In lead iodide the phenomenon of polytypism is posing an interesting problem of phase transformations amongst its various polytypic modifications. The transformations have also been observed even when the crystals are stored for few months. It causes deterioration in functioning of PbI₂ devices. Taking into account the known structures of PbI₂ and the data available on the mode of growth and storage of crystals, it has been concluded that purified melt grown crystals of PbI₂ are the best suited for nuclear radiation detectors.

Keywords

Lead Iodide; Polytypism; Crystal Structure; Phase Transformations

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	M. Hassan, M. Matuchora and K. Zdansky, “Performance of Lead Iodide Nuclear Radiation Detectors with Introduction of Rare Earth Elements,” Central European Journal of Physics, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2006, pp. 117-123. doi:10.1007/s11534-005-0010-x
[2]	Y. M. Tairov and V. F. Tsvetkov, “Crystal Growth and Characterization of Polytypic Structures,” Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1983.
[3]	S. E. Saddow and A. Agarwal, “Advances in Silicon Carbide Processing and Applications,” Artech House Inc., London, 2004.
[4]	A. S. Raw, M. S. Furness, D. S. Gill, R. C. Adams, F. O. Holcombe Jr. and L. X. Yu, “Regulatory Considerations of Pharmaceutical Solid Polymorphism in Abbreviated new Drug Applications (ANDAs),” Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, Vol. 56, No. 3, 2004, pp. 397-414. doi:10.1016/j.addr.2003.10.011
[5]	M. Matuchoya, K. Zdansky, J. Zavdil, J. Tonn, M., Mousa, A.-G. Jafar, A. N. Danilewsky, A. Croll and J. Maixner, “Influence of Doping and Non-Stoichiometry on the Quality of Lead Iodide for Use in X-Ray Detection,” Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol. 312, No. 8, 2010, pp. 1233-1239. doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2009.12.034
[6]	G. C. Trigunayat, “Present Status of Polytypism in MX2 Compounds,” Phase Transitions: A Multinational Journal, Vol. 16-17, No. 1-4, 1989, pp. 509-527. doi:10.1080/01411598908245726
[7]	E. Salje, B. Palosz and B. Wruck, “In Situ Observation of the Polytypic Phase Transition 2H-12R in PbI2: Investigation of the Thermodynamic, Structural and Dielectric Properties,” Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics, Vol. 20, No. 26, 1987, pp. 4077-4096.
[8]	V. A. Bibik, I. V. Blonski, M. S. Brodin and N. A. Davy-dova, “Structural Phase Transition in Layer Semiconductor PbI2 Induced by Laser Irradiation,” Physica Status Solidi (a), Vol. 90, No. 1, 1985, pp. K11-K14. doi:10.1002/pssa.2210900147
[9]	S. K. Chaudhry and H. Kaur, “Impurity Induced Structural Phase Transformations in Melt Grown Single Crystals of Lead Iodide,” Crystal Research and Technology, Vol. 46, No. 12, 2011, pp. 1235-1240. doi:10.1002/crat.201100250
[10]	M. A. Wahab and G. C. Trigunayat, “Mode of Layer Displacements in MX2-Type Crystals,” Solid State Communication, Vol. 36, No. 10, 1981, pp. 885-889. doi:10.1016/0038-1098(80)90133-7
[11]	M. A. Wahab and G. C. Trigunayat, “Low Temperature X-Ray Diffraction Study of CdI2 Crystals,” Crystal Research and Technology, Vol. 24, No. 4, 1989, pp. 355-363. doi:10.1002/crat.2170240403
[12]	T. Ito, T. Kondo, T. Akiyama and K. Nakamura, “Theoretical Investigation of the Polytypism in Silicon Carbide: Contribution of the Vacancy Formation,” Physica Status Solidi (c), Vol. 8, No. 2, 2011, pp. 583-585. doi:10.1002/pssc.201000401
[13]	T. Ito, T. Kondo, T. Akiyama and K. Nakamura, “Theoretical Investigations for the Polytypism in Semiconductors,” Journal of Crystal Growth, Vol. 318, No. 1, 2011, pp. 141-144. doi:10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2010.10.089
[14]	M. Soudmand and G. C. Trigunayat, “Phase Transformations in PbI2 Crystals with Temperature,” Phase Transitions, Vol. 16/17, 1989, pp. 417-424.
[15]	A. Jain and G. C. Trigunayat, “Growth and Polytype Transformation of AgI-Doped and Undoped PbI2 Crystals,” Acta Crystallographica Section A, Vol. A52, 1996, pp. 590-595.
[16]	S. K. Chaudhary and G. C. Trigunayat, “Polytypism in Melt Grown Crystals of CdI2, PbI2 and CdBr2,” Acta Crystallographica Section A, Vol. B43, 1987, pp. 225-230.