The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking research proposals for the development of x-ray technology capable of what the agency calls "extreme photon imaging."
As part of its Extreme Photon Imaging Capability -- Hard X-Ray (EPIC-HXR) project, DARPA said it is looking to develop uncooled hard x-ray imagers based on advanced nanocrystalline materials with high spatial and energy resolution, including quantum dot and perovskite material.
DARPA said such systems have many desirable properties, such as tunable band-gap energies, quantum confinement, multiexciton generation, and phonon quenching, and they hold promise as high-performance photon absorbers operating at room temperature, according to the agency.
Challenges remain in using such materials to produce practical devices, such as poor charge transport, limited scalability of assembly processes, limited lifetimes, or poor stability, DARPA said.
DARPA said that hard x-ray imagers could be used in a variety of applications, including medical imaging, nondestructive testing, elemental analysis, and part qualification.
The funding opportunity is available through DARPA's Small Business Programs Office and will open for proposals on August 26 and close at 12 p.m. Eastern time on September 28. More information is available on DARPA's website.
