Novel solid-state nuclear detectors based on defect-free crystalline $\alpha $-HgI$_{2}$ nanowires synthesized at diffusion controlled conditions*

Solid-state detectors are based on semiconductors materials that directly convert X-Ray or Gamma-Ray photons in hole-electron pair with sufficient mobility to produce electric current. HgI$_{2}$ is a very large band-gap semiconductor material able to operate at room-temperature (RT) under ideal conditions provide by perfect crystallinity. Crystals of $\alpha $-HgI$_{2}$ were proposed as the perfect detector material due to its large seminsulating band-gap and large stopping power. Although HgI$_{2}$ crystals of good quality and large size have been grown, their commercial use is reduced because the crystalline quality degrades during the processes for fabrication of devices. Trapping defects are created and no fabrication method has been found to circumvent the problem in a systematic and reproducible manner. Based on our capability to synthesized defect-free crystalline HgI$_{2}$ nanoneedles inside porous matrix we are proposing to fabricate detectors that will not require manipulation of the HgI$_{2}$ crystals and, therefore, will not suffer degradation and the associated lack of performance. Fundamental understanding, control and application for the fabrication of these detectors will be studied in the context of preparation and synthesis of HgI$_{2}$ nanostructures in the porous matrix.