High sensitivity, high resolution, solid state x-ray imaging device with barrier layer

A method of producing a radiation imager comprising:

• providing a photodetector array comprised of a plurality of photodetectors, each of said photodetectors having an active area, said photodetector array having topographically patterned surface features including spaced apart, raised support islands, the pattern of the centers of said support islands being substantially the same as the pattern of the centers of said photodetectors, the centers of said support islands being substantially aligned with the centers of respective ones of said photodetector active areas;
• and
• forming a structured scintillator material on said support islands, said structured scintillator material forming separate scintillator elements disposed over and in substantial alignment with said support islands;
• the step of providing a photodetector array having topographically patterned surface features including;
• depositing a barrier layer comprising a material that is substantially impervious to organic solvents over said photodetectors;
• depositing an organic film over said barrier layer;
• and
• patterning at least said organic film to form said spaced-apart support islands.

A radiation imager comprising:

• a photodetector array having topographically patterned surface features, said photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors and said surface features comprising spaced-apart support islands positioned over said photodetectors and a barrier layer of an inorganic dielectric material to chemically separate said support islands from said photodetectors;
• and
• a scintillator array comprised of individual scintillator elements, each of said individual scintillator elements having a columnar configuration;
• said photodetector array and said scintillator array being disposed in fixed relation to each other with said scintillator elements being aligned with respective ones of said support islands.