Flexible cameras are important early warning wearable devices to protect security personnel from dangerous events. However, the desired key component of flexible cameras, a highly-sensitive and high-response-speed flexible photodetector, is difficult to create using conventional inorganic semiconductors. Here, we propose a low-temperature synthesis method to grow perovskite nanoflakes with high flexibility and crystallinity on a polymeric substrate. Furthermore, a high-performance flexible photodetector based on the obtained perovskite nanoflakes was fabricated. Its photoresponsivity rivals the highest values reported and, simultaneously, its response speed is faster than those of most current flexible photodetectors by 1–3 orders of magnitude.

α-HgI2 is a promising material for room temperature X-ray detection. A facile temperature difference method is designed to grow 4 × 4 × 2 mm3 α-HgI2 bulk crystal from KI aqueous solution. Characterization results indicate the as-grown high quality crystals are single-crystalline and possess a standard bandgap (Eg = 2.16 eV at 300 K) and high electrical resistivity (1010 Ω·cm). Utilizing the as-grown crystal, moreover, a photoconductive type prototype X-ray detector is fabricated. The detector behaves at high X-ray sensitivity, which is improved by one order of magnitude in comparison with previous results from solution grown α-HgI2. In addition to α-HgI2, the crystal growth of other halides materials which are used for X-ray detection, e.g., PbI2, HgBr2, BiI3, may also benefit from the presented temperature difference method.

•Well-aligned ZnO nanowire arrays were successfully grown on ZnO single crystals.•Au nanodot catalysts were fabricated through anodized aluminum oxide templates.•Density of ZnO nanowire arrays is controlled by the structure of the templates.Vertically aligned ZnO nanowire arrays were grown on ZnO single crystals using a chemical vapor deposition method. Nucleation sites were defined by patterning Au nanodot catalysts fabricated through anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. Morphology and structure characterizations showed that the as-grown nanowires had the single-crystal hexagonal wurtzite structure with a <0001> growth direction. By changing the pore distance of AAO, the density of nanowires could be well controlled. A sharp peak in the UV region and a weak broad peak in the visible region were shown in the room temperature photoluminescence spectra, suggesting the high-quality ZnO nanowire arrays were obtained.