We built a new type of photodetector from tin-doped gallium oxide microwires—thinner than a human hair—that can spot invisible radiation like UVC light and X-rays without using a battery.

These devices work like tiny solar cells: they generate current when exposed to radiation, achieving up to 713 A/W responsivity with bias and still 2 A/W in self-powered mode. Using transparent graphene contacts, they respond in under 150 ms, fast enough for real-time monitoring.

This dual ability to detect both UVC and X-rays opens doors for applications in healthcare, defense, space, and secure communication—all in a compact, energy-free platform.

Read the full study: Self-Powered UVC and X-Ray Photodetection in Single Sn-Doped β-Ga₂O₃ Microwire Schottky Diodes, Advanced Materials Technologies (2025). https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202501212

This work was carried out by researchers from INESC MN, Complutense University of Madrid, and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF).