PbI2 as Nuclear Particle Detector

PbI2 detectors fabricated starting from samples either grown from the melt by the Bridgman method either from the vapour by the iodine assisted chemical transport method, have been tested for nuclear applications and compared each other in this respect. Values of (mobility) × (trapping times) product, μτ+, measured both for electrons and holes turn out to be one or two orders of magnitude larger than reported previously and they are better for vapour-grown samples than for melt-grown ones. Moreover, dark currents seem to be one or two orders of magnitude lower for samples grown from the vapour-phase. The indication is obviously that, at least at this early stages, the growth by the chemical transport seems to be superior to the Bridgman method for obtaining detector quality crystals. Finally, the main features of this material as nuclear detector are discussed.