A compact includes a mixture of a solid binder and at least one nanopowder
phosphor chosen from yttrium oxide, yttrium tantalate, barium fluoride,
cesium fluoride, bismuth germanate, zinc gallate, calcium magnesium
pyrosilicate, calcium molybdate, calcium chlorovanadate, barium titanium
pyrophosphate, a metal tungstate, a cerium doped nanophosphor, a bismuth
doped nanophosphor, a lead doped nanophosphor, a thallium doped sodium
iodide, a doped cesium iodide, a rare earth doped pyrosilicate, or a
lanthanide halide. The compact can be used in a radiation detector for
detecting ionizing radiation.