Characterization of High-Flux CdZnTe with optimized electrodes for 4th generation synchrotrons

In this collaboration work between IMEM-CNR and the ESRF, we explore the potential of the Redlen Technologies High-Flux Cadmium Zinc Telluride (HF-CZT) material for direct X-ray detection at fluxes ranging from10+7 to 10+12 photons mm-2 s-1. HF-CZT single crystals with optimized electroless gold and sputtered platinum electrodes are characterized both under dark conditions and under X-ray irradiation. We report low leakage current under dark conditions (<100 pA/mm2 at 5 kV/cm). We also report good linearity (R2 > 0.999) under moderate to high incident X-ray flux (10+7 to 10+10 photons mm-2 s-1) as well as good stability and reproducibility for incident X-ray fluxes up to 10+12 photons mm-2 s-1. Finally, we study transient phenomena in the seconds time range and report fast stabilization time (<200 ms) and negligible afterglow in this time range.