Electronic and Nuclear Subsystem Response in Hybrid Halide Perovskites Under γ-Irradiation

TL;DR

This paper studies how hybrid halide perovskites respond to gamma radiation, showing that their performance depends on composition and layer thickness.

Contribution

The study reveals how heavy atoms and layer thickness influence γ-ray interaction in perovskites for photovoltaics and detection.

Findings

Heavy atoms like Pb and I dominate photoelectric absorption and scattering in perovskites.

Cs-containing perovskites show higher absorption and ionization compared to FA- and MA-rich ones.

Layer thickness strongly affects radiation response, with ultrathin films having fewer interactions and higher per-event energy.

Abstract

Lead halide perovskites, including single-cation (MAPbI3, FAPbI3, CsPbI3) and mixed-cation (Cs0.12FA0.88PbI3, Cs0.1MA0.15FA0.75PbI3) compositions, are promising for both space photovoltaics and γ-ray detection due to their tunable optoelectronic properties. However, their response to high-energy radiation remains critical for reliable operation. We performed Monte-Carlo simulations using GEANT4 to investigate photon interactions (0.1–90 MeV) with perovskites of varying composition and thickness (1 cm to 1 μm). Results indicate that heavy atoms (Pb, I) dominate photoelectric absorption and scattering, broadly similar absorbed energies and event rates across compositions. Cs-containing perovskites exhibit slightly higher absorption and ionization, whereas FA- and MA-rich compositions show reduced photoelectric and Rayleigh scattering. Layer thickness strongly influences the radiation response: ultrathin films display fewer interactions with higher per-event energy, while millimeter-scale layers achieve efficient absorption and enable pair-production events at MeV energies. The sequence of dominant processes follows the expected energy dependence: photoelectric effect at low energies, Compton and Rayleigh scattering at intermediate energies, and pair production at high energies. These findings demonstrate that perovskite γ-interaction is primarily governed by heavy-atom content, with A-site cations fine-tuning the process balance, and that device performance for detection or photovoltaics depends critically on layer thickness.

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