Perovskite semiconductors seeing right through next generation X-ray detectors

From observing celestial objects to medical imaging, the sensitive detection of X-rays plays a central role in countless applications. However, the methods used to detect them have undergone an interesting evolution of their own.
X-ray detector designs vary in shape, function and ultimately performance. For example, indirect scintillators detect X-rays by converting the high energy of X-ray photons into light which is visible to the naked eye. This down-shifting makes it possible to use well-established optical detectors to generate a detectable electronic signal. Besides the need for large, complicated multi-component devices, such designs inherent significant limitations when applied for imaging.