A research team from Soochow University, Northwestern University, and their collaborators have demonstrated the potential use of perovskite semiconductor detectors for single-photon γ-ray imaging, a core technology in nuclear medicine diagnostics. The study, published in Nature Communications, outlines a proof-of-concept system designed to improve spatial and energy resolution in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
SPECT imaging depends on γ-ray cameras to localize radionuclides such as technetium-99m (^99mTc), which is widely used in clinical diagnostics. Standard sodium iodide detectors have limited resolution, while cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) detectors offer improved clarity but are expensive to manufacture.
According to the study, the detectors achieved record energy resolutions:
2.5 percent at ^99mTc 141 keV
0.93 percent at ^22Na 511 keV
0.87 percent at ^137Cs 662 keV
Single-photon imaging tests with ^99mTc sources demonstrated detection sensitivities between 0.13 percent and 0.21 percent counts per second per becquerel. Phantom imaging revealed a spatial resolution of 3.2-3.8 mm, allowing clear separation of column sources spaced 7 mm apart. The detectors also showed stable operation over extended testing, with leakage currents kept low through optimized surface treatments and electrode configurations.
The findings suggest that perovskite-based detectors could provide an alternative to existing scintillator and semiconductor systems, offering improved resolution with potentially lower costs. For clinical practice, these characteristics may translate into shorter imaging times, reduced patient radiation exposure, and clearer diagnostic information, though further validation in clinical settings is required.
The authors emphasize that the technology remains at a developmental stage but note its suitability for integration into γ-ray imaging systems used in nuclear medicine. Future studies will need to confirm reproducibility, long-term stability, and performance in full-scale imaging devices.
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