Radiation detection and energy conversion in nuclear reactor environments by hybrid photovoltaic perovskites

Detection and direct power conversion of high energy and high intensity ionizing radiation could be a key element in next generation nuclear reactor safety systems and space-born devices. For example, the Fukushima catastrophe in 2011 could have been largely prevented if 1\% of the reactor's remnant radiation ($γ$-rays of the nuclear fission) were directly converted within the reactor to electricity to power the water cooling circuit. It is reported here that the hybrid halide perovskite methylammonium lead triiodide could perfectly play the role of a converter. Single crystals were irradiated by a typical shut-down $γ$-spectrum of a nuclear reactor with 7.61E14 Bq activity exhibit a high-efficiency of $γ$-ray to free charge carrier conversion with radiation hardening. The power density of 0.3 mW/kg of methylammonium lead triiodide at 50 Sv/h means a four times higher efficiency than that for silicon-based cells. The material was stable to the limits of the experiment without changing its performance up to 100 Sv/h dose rate and 57 Sv H*(10) ambient total $γ$-dose. Moreover, the γ-shielding performance of methylammonium lead triiodide was found to be superior to both ordinary and barite concrete.