Polycrystalline mercuric iodide detectors

Polycrystalline mercuric iodide nuclear radiation detectors have been prepared using different ceramic fabrication methods, such as hot pressing, hot wall vapor phase deposition and screen printing. Areas varying between 0.01 to 100 cm(2) and thicknesses varying between 30 to 600 microns, have been fabricated. Gold or carbon electrodes were deposited having the shape of single continuous, linear strip or square pixel contacts and tested for their response to lower and higher gamma energy and beta particles. The mu tau value is of the order of 10(-7) cm(2)/V for both holes and electrons and therefore can act as particle counter without energy resolution. The low production cost for potential large detector area make these compounds interesting for certain imaging applications.