Improved Techniques for the Fabrication of Frisch Collar CdZnTe Gamma Ray Spectrometers

New methods, designed for the commercial-scale production of Frisch collar CdZnTe gamma ray spectrometers, are described in detail in the following work. Past methods required considerable skilled labor, were not readily automatable, and batch processing was only supported through a portion of the fabrication process. Advances in dielectric materials technology allow for new processes that readily apply the required dielectric film between the CdZnTe crystal and the conductive collar. The processes use spray or chemical vapor deposition methods to accurately achieve a specific thickness. Furthermore, application of the conductive collar was improved to facilitate commercial manufacturing. Comparisons in device performance are presented between the previous and new methods to illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the new fabrication method. Parylene N performed well as the dielectric layer, while nickel-based paint, high-purity silver-based paint, and a silver-suspension Electrodag all performed well as the conductive layer, each maintaining spectral performance.