Ferroelectric polymer–ceramic composites for hard X-ray detection and XANES application
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Flexible X-ray detectors with high sensitivity, broadband response, and room-temperature operation are desirable for modern synchrotron instrumentation, where conventional semiconductor and crystalline pyroelectric detectors face limitations of rigidity, cooling requirements, and thickness-dependent performance loss. In this work, BaTiO3-reinforced P(VDF-TrFE) composite films are fabricated and evaluated as pyroelectric X-ray detectors. Structural and spectroscopic characterization using X-ray diffraction, FTIR, Raman, photoluminescence, and TEM confirm the coexistence of ferroelectric tetragonal BaTiO3 and electroactive β-phase P(VDF-TrFE) within a 0–3 composite architecture. Minor secondary phases arising from incomplete ceramic precursor conversion are identified and quantified. The composite exhibits a pyroelectric coefficient of 48 μC·m⁻2·K⁻1. Under 17 keV synchrotron excitation, the detector achieves a peak responsivity of ~ 2.9 × 104 V/W, minimum NEP ≈1.2 × 10⁻⁸ W·Hz⁻1/2 and peak detectivity ≈3.9 × 10⁷ cm·Hz1/2·W⁻1 at 10–15 Hz, approaching the performance of 500 μm thick LiTaO3 crystal sensors while retaining the potential for mechanical flexibility and conformality. The measured frequency-dependent response and noise are consistent with established pyroelectric detector models. XANES measurements using Pt L₂, ₃ edges further demonstrate spectroscopic capability and sufficient signal-to-noise for absorption edge resolution. These results establish P(VDF-TrFE)/BaTiO3 composites as a viable alternative to fragile single-crystal pyroelectrics, enabling conformal, low-power X-ray sensors for synchrotron diagnostics and energy-resolved spectroscopy.
Date Issued
2026-07-01
Date Acceptance
2026-05-28
Citation
Applied Physics A, 2026, 132 (7)
ISSN
0947-8396
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Journal / Book Title
Applied Physics A
Volume
132
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
Copyright © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
591
Date Publish Online
2026-06-09