A direct conversion radiation detector configured to detect and directly convert into electrical signals incident x-ray radiation, comprising: at least two electrode plates (310, 330) orientated parallel to each other defining a set of electrode plates wherein for each set of electrode plates a first plate is a cathode comprising a material possessing an element with an atomic number > 26, and wherein a second plate is an anode; and a dielectric material interposed between the at least two electrode plates wherein absorption of ionizing radiation of radiation energies from approximately 1 keV to approximately 200 keV by the detector produces ionization in the dielectric material resulting in radiation induced conductivity of the dielectric material creating a measurable electric current when an external voltage is imposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein energetic charged particle(s) produced by absorption or inelastic scattering of x-rays in the set of electrode plates can escape said set of electrode plates producing ionization in the dielectric material, and a minimum thickness of the dielectric material is equal to or larger than a continuous slowing down approximation range of energetic charged particle(s) in the dielectric material, said energetic charged particle(s) having been produced by absorption or inelastic scattering of an x-ray in either the cathode or the anode, and wherein the detector comprises a plurality of sets of electrode plates and each set of electrode plates is configured to be orientated normal to the incident ionizing radiation in use, and wherein each set of electrode plates is configured to be adjacent to one another; and wherein anode and/or cathode thickness and dielectric material thickness of each successive set of electrode plates is larger than previous sets of electrode plates. at least two electrode plates (310, 330) orientated parallel to each other defining a set of electrode plates wherein for each set of electrode plates a first plate is a cathode comprising a material possessing an element with an atomic number > 26, and wherein a second plate is an anode; and a dielectric material interposed between the at least two electrode plates wherein absorption of ionizing radiation of radiation energies from approximately 1 keV to approximately 200 keV by the detector produces ionization in the dielectric material resulting in radiation induced conductivity of the dielectric material creating a measurable electric current when an external voltage is imposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein energetic charged particle(s) produced by absorption or inelastic scattering of x-rays in the set of electrode plates can escape said set of electrode plates producing ionization in the dielectric material, and a minimum thickness of the dielectric material is equal to or larger than a continuous slowing down approximation range of energetic charged particle(s) in the dielectric material, said energetic charged particle(s) having been produced by absorption or inelastic scattering of an x-ray in either the cathode or the anode, and wherein the detector comprises a plurality of sets of electrode plates and each set of electrode plates is configured to be orientated normal to the incident ionizing radiation in use, and wherein each set of electrode plates is configured to be adjacent to one another; and wherein anode and/or cathode thickness and dielectric material thickness of each successive set of electrode plates is larger than previous sets of electrode plates. wherein each set of electrode plates is configured to be adjacent to one another; and wherein anode and/or cathode thickness and dielectric material thickness of each successive set of electrode plates is larger than previous sets of electrode plates.