This Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant will support the research and development of lead iodide semiconductor devices for the detection of alpha, beta, gamma and x-radiation. Methods for growing large, extremely pure crystals of lead iodide will be investigated and developed, and the suitability of the resultant material for radiation detection characterized and studied. In particular, indications that the material can be used in high temperature environments will be tested in detail. Previous Phase I research has demonstrated the feasibility of the project and identified the research to be done. Lead iodide detectors, if developed successfully, would provide very compact nuclear radiation detection devices capable of operating at temperatures up to 250 degrees C, and would represent a significant advance in the technology of nuclear radiation detectors.
