Search

Site‐selective occupation generated by ion doping into crystal lattices is an effective way to explore new matter and regulate luminescent properties. Herein, equiv. M2+ (Ca, Sr, Ba) is partially replaced each other to formulate multiple doped sites in Li2MSiO4: Eu2+ (LMSO: Eu2+). As the luminescence center, Eu2+ selectively occupies different sites to regulate luminescent color in the visible spectrum ranging from blue to orange, and ultimately functionality improvement. The Huang‐Rhys factor is quite small and the resulting phosphors display an ultrahigh thermal stability for optical thermometry. Besides, utilizing synthesized phosphors combined with the InGaN chip generates high‐quality full‐spectrum white light. Under X‐ray irradiation, LMSO: Eu2+ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) exhibits great X‐ray imaging ability, the detection limit of X‐ray reaches 0.18, 0.075, and 0.12 µGy s−1. This work presents great potentiality of synthesized phosphors in the fields of solid‐state lighting and X‐ray imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper(I) halide cluster‐based coordination compounds have attracted significant attention in the development of novel scintillators due to their mild synthesis methods, high luminescence efficiency, tunable emission wavelength, high‐Z element incorporation, and large structural diversity. However, a major obstacle for these crystalline materials with covalent/coordination network structures is their insolubility, which poses significant challenges for the low‐cost and large‐scale production of scintillation films. In this study, copper(I) iodide and benzotriazole derivative ligands with diverse cationic substituents are employed to fabricate all‐in‐one (AIO) colloidal copper(I) iodide cluster‐based scintillator suspensions. These suspensions, characterized by distinctive ionic and coordination bonds, are synthesized via confined growth in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Furthermore, they demonstrate exceptional compatibility with polymer matrices, facilitating the production of uniform and flexible scintillation films with highly efficient radioluminescence through blade coating. The resulting films achieved an excellent spatial resolution of 17 lp mm−1. This surfactant‐assisted fabrication method for colloidal scintillators, combined with microelectronic printing for film preparation, demonstrates significant potential for developing flexible scintillation films for high‐resolution X‐ray imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillators have been widely used for high‐energy radiation imaging. It is in great demand and challenge to develop scintillator materials with fast decay time, high scintillation light yield, and low detection limit for high‐resolution imaging applications such as time‐of‐flight positron emission tomography. However, it is still a challenge to develop the ultrafast carrier dynamics to achieve 100% ultrafast decay time with high scintillation light yield. To meet the demand, a series of component‐tunable Cs2ZnCl4: x%Zr single crystals as promising ultrafast scintillators is successfully developed. With 8% of Zr‐dopant (Cs2ZnCl4: 8%Zr), the single crystal exhibits high light yield (28000 photons MeV−1) and low detection limit (51 nGy s−1) under X‐ray excitation. Photo‐induced transient absorption signals on sub‐nanosecond and nanosecond scales ensure almost 100% fast decay time (≈3 ns) in nanoseconds under γ‐ray excitation. In particular, the different radiative transition processes are achieved under ultraviolet and high‐energy radiation due to the tunable carrier dynamics from the shallow trapped state to the self‐trapped exciton (STE) state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of ultrafast scintillators is critical to the GHz X‐ray and time‐of‐flight (TOF) imaging techniques. Low‐dimensional silver‐based halides have emerged as promising candidates due to high radioluminescence efficiency and ultrafast decay time. However, the ultrafast scintillation mechanism in silver‐based halides, such as Rb2AgBr3 (RAB), remains controversial. Here, the study reveals the origin of ultrafast scintillation timing response in melt‐grown RAB bulk crystals. The RAB shows light‐yellow emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 13.9%. Under the picosecond (ps) pulse X‐ray irradiation, RAB has an ultrafast decay time of 3.2 ns that accounts for 40.5% of the total emitted light. The light yield is estimated as 3100 photons MeV−1 under 22Na irradiation. Based on the temperature‐dependent radioluminescence (RL) spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and spectrally resolved thermally‐stimulated luminescence (TSL) glow curves, it is confirmed that the bromine vacancy as the F‐center is the origin of the ultrafast scintillation component. These findings provide elaborated and fundamental insights into the ultrafast luminescent mechanisms of low‐dimensional silver‐based halides, thereby opening up new design horizons in the development of ultrafast scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of large‐area transparent organic‐inorganic hybrid metal halide (OIMH) scintillation screens is restricted by the anisotropic single‐crystal growth, numerous grain boundaries in polycrystalline wafers, and inhomogeneous dispersion in perovskite‐polymer composite films. The crystal‐glass phase transition of OIMH materials may provide a promising solution for the above significant challenges. Herein, a new class of transparent amorphous guanidinium‐based manganese bromide glasses, (DPG)2MnBr4 and (DOTG)2MnBr4 (DPG = 1,3‐diphenylguanidinium, DOTG = 1,3‐di‐o‐tolylguanidinium), are synthesized through a low‐temperature melt‐quenching process. The (DOTG)2MnBr4 shows impressive glass‐forming ability because of large viscosity (η) at the melting temperature (Tm) (η(Tm) = 3426 mPa·s) and small fragility index (m = 52.35), which can be a potential glass scintillator. The large‐area (e.g., 13 cm × 13 cm) transparent amorphous (DOTG)2MnBr4 glass scintillator shows high light transmittance of > 80%, a low detection limit of 237.3 nGy s−1 and high X‐ray imaging spatial resolution of 12 lp mm−1. Interestingly, the glass transition temperature of < 40 °C gives (DOTG)2MnBr4 glass unique thermoplastic properties, allowing it to conform to irregularly shaped objects and reduce the distortion in X‐ray imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillators with high spatial‐resolution and high‐stability are highly desirable for X‐ray imaging applications at unpredictable environments. To challenge state‐of‐the‐art technology, it is necessary to design high thermal stable scintillators with high‐resolution and high light yield. In this work, the zero‐thermal‐quenching Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+ (LuAG: Ce3+) transparent ceramics (TCs) is synthesized with high optical transparency. The thermoluminescence (TL) curves of the as‐obtained TCs demonstrate that the formation of the oxygen vacancies, acting as the trapping centers, can capture the carriers and then contribute to the enhancement of its thermals stability via the thermal compensation effect. The exceptional thermal‐stability of the TCs scintillator endows the monitoring of the dynamic changes of the internal structure of the objective samples without any ghosting effects during heating. In addition, given the ultra‐high uniform, transparency, and fast light decay of the TCs scintillator, the excellent spatial resolution (≈112 lp mm−1) of the X‐ray microscopic imaging is realized. These results undeniably demonstrate that the as‐obtained LuAG: Ce3+ TCs have great prospects for advancement in X‐ray detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a detector is developed using deuterated L‐alanine doped triglycine sulfate (DLATGS) crystals capable of detecting circularly polarized light (CPL) and various polarization states. As a primary pyroelectric detection crystal, DLATGS has exhibited notable optical responses to both linearly and circularly polarized light during the tests, demonstrating a favorable polarization ratio of 3.86 and an anisotropic factor glph${g}_{lph}$ of 0.529. The research discovers the broad‐spectrum bulk photovoltaic (BPVE) characteristics in DLATGS, highlighting its potential for CPL detection. By integrating linear and circular bulk photovoltaic effect theories (LBPV and CBPV), the crystal's ability to differentiate between various polarization modes, including left‐/right‐handed polarized light, is confirmed. The BPVE and pyro‐phototronic coupling responses is characterized, laying a theoretical foundation for a rare pyroelectric effect‐based multifunctional polarization detector. The overall consistency of phenomena and theoretical framework bridges the gap between theoretical predictions and experimental validation. This work not only advances the understanding of DLATGS crystals but also sets the stage for further exploration into chiral materials and the development of TGS‐type crystals in future photoelectronic detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgency for cost‐effective, high‐resolution, flexible X‐ray imaging detectors is generating great demand for scintillators with low‐temperature processability, high scintillation yield, and negligible afterglow. X‐ray imaging materials are currently dominated by inorganic scintillators in the form of rigid films and bulk crystals, which have inherent limitations including high‐temperature, complex synthesis, and considerable challenges toward advanced nonplanar imaging. Here, high‐performance and flexible X‐ray scintillators based on novel zero‐dimensional (0D) (BTPP)2MnX4 (BTPP = benzyltriphenylphosphonium; X = Cl, Br) halides are reported. They emit bright green light originating from the 4T1‐6A1 transition of Mn2+ under X‐ray excitation. In particular, (BTPP)2MnBr4 single crystals exhibit excellent air‐ and radiation‐stability, a high scintillation yield of 53 000 photons MeV−1, a low detection limit of 89.9 nGyair s−1, and an ultralow afterglow comparable to commercial Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) single crystals. Moreover, the (BTPP)2MnCl4@polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flexible scintillation screens achieve a high spatial resolution of 14.1 lp mm−1 and realize high‐quality imaging results of nonplanar objects. This study demonstrates that the flexible scintillation screens based on low‐dimensional Mn(II) hybrid halides have significant potential for low‐dose and high‐resolution X‐ray imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper‐based halides have emerged as promising scintillator materials for X‐ray imaging due to their favorable photophysical characteristics, such as negligible self‐absorption, high light output, and fast decay. Among these materials, Cs3Cu2I5, a blue emitter, currently delivers the highest scintillation light output under steady‐state X‐rays. However, there is a significant spectral mismatch between its emission band and the spectral responsivity of regular flat‐panel photodiode arrays. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the physical properties of the CsCu2I3 scintillator is conducted, and its perfect spectral compatibility is discovered, which results in a higher photodiode signal despite its relatively lower light output compared to typical Cs3Cu2I5 scintillators. Furthermore, CsCu2I3 exhibits faster light decay properties, making it especially suitable for Computed Tomography (CT) X‐ray imaging. High‐quality X‐ray cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging is successfully demonstrated using the fast‐decaying CsCu2I3 scintillator screen. Additionally, the flexibility of the scintillator allows for non‐planar imaging, showcasing advantages not available with traditional rigid scintillators. These results not only highlight the significant promise of the CsCu2I3 scintillator but also emphasize the necessity of considering spectral compatibility when designing novel scintillator materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional scintillator‐based X‐ray imaging typically captures the full spectral of X‐ray photons without distinguishing their energy. However, the absence of X‐ray spectral information often results in insufficient image contrast, particularly for substances possessing similar atomic numbers and densities. In this study, an innovative multi‐energy X‐ray linear‐array detector is presented that leverages side‐illuminated X‐ray scintillation using the emerging metal halide Cs3Cu2I5. The negligible self‐absorption characteristic not only improves the scintillation output but is also beneficial for improving the energy resolution for the side‐illuminated scintillation scenarios. By exploiting Beer's law, which governs the absorption of X‐ray photons with different energies, the incident X‐ray spectral can be reconstructed by analyzing the distribution of scintillation intensity when the scintillator is illuminated from the side. The relative error between the reconstructed and measured X‐ray spectral is < 5.63%. This method offers an additional energy‐resolving capability for X‐ray linear‐array detectors commonly used in computed tomography (CT) imaging setups, surpassing the capabilities of conventional energy‐integration approaches, all without requiring extra hardware components. A proof‐of‐concept multi‐energy CT imaging system featuring eight energy channels is successfully implemented. This study presents a simple and efficient strategy for achieving multi‐energy X‐ray detection and CT imaging based on emerging metal halides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the extraordinary X‐ray scintillation performance of three‐dimensional (3D) lead perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs), the serious biotoxicity of Pb2+ and luminescent instability in water remain insurmountable obstacles for their applications in medical imaging. To address these drawbacks, herein, the study demonstrates one new lead‐free zero‐dimensional (0D) hybrid cuprous halide of single‐crystalline [BzTPP]2Cu2I4 (BzTPP = Benzyltriphenylphosphonium) as a satisfactory X‐ray scintillator. [BzTPP]2Cu2I4 displays broadband yellowish‐green light emission with a high photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY) of 44.2% and large Stokes shift of 167 nm upon UV light excitation. High PLQY and negligible self‐absorption enable [BzTPP]2Cu2I4 to display impressive scintillation performance excited by X‐ray with a light yield of 27 706 photons MeV‐1 and low detection limit of 0.352 µGy s−1, surpassing typical 3D PNCs. More importantly, [BzTPP]2Cu2I4 represents extraordinary structural and luminescent stability in water for at least one month. The excellent and stable radioluminescence performance as well as solution growth method ensure a [BzTPP]2Cu2I4‐based screen for fine‐resolution X‐ray imaging with potential in radiography and inspection. This work highlights the multiple merits of low‐toxicity and cost, high light yield, and long‐term water‐stability of 0D hybrid cuprous halides as highly desirable X‐ray scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass scintillators have several benefits compared to the currently used single or polycrystalline scintillators, including non‐hygroscopicity, mechanical ruggedness, ease of producing customizable shapes, and low‐cost synthesis. The combination of the inert glass matrix and the embedded highly scintillating center render them significant materials for medical imaging and therapy, non‐destructive probing, nuclear monitoring, and high‐energy physics. Recently, great progress has been made in exploring new kinds of glass scintillator materials, improving imaging resolution for radiation detection, and developing an enormous range of commercial products. However, the majority of efforts have been devoted to the variation of materials, while rationally designing this new family of scintillators toward expected properties and applications is still lacking. In this review, the focus is specifically on advances in glass scintillators, including the scintillation fundamentals, material designing rule, and current application status, as well as future challenges and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X‐ray imaging technology has been widely used in the fields of environmental monitoring, safety inspection, nondestructive examination, space exploration, and medical diagnosis, among which scintillation materials play a vital role in indirectly converting X‐ray to visible photons. Here, a zero‐dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid halide C50H44P2SbCl5 crystal is prepared via a facile antisolvent precipitation method at room temperature. The single crystal of C50H44P2SbCl5 displays a strong yellow broadband emission centered at 592 nm with a near‐unity photoluminescence quantum yield of 98.42%. Importantly, C50H44P2SbCl5 crystals show great environmental stability and irradiation stability. Radioluminescence characterization indicates that C50H44P2SbCl5 crystals exhibit a good linear response to X‐ray dose rates along with an excellent light yield of 44 460 photons MeV−1, surpassing that of commercial inorganic LuAG:Ce scintillator. The spatial resolution of the C50H44P2SbCl5‐based scintillating screen is determined to be 8.2 lp mm−1. In conjunction with polymer thin film, the excellent scintillating feature of organic–inorganic hybrid halides offers exciting opportunities for achieving high‐quality flexible X‐ray imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero‐dimensional (0D) copper‐based perovskite‐derivative nano‐scintillators (NSs), as a promising non‐toxic alternative to lead‐based halide perovskite, have shown great potential in flexible X‐ray detection and imaging. However, their practical applications are still impeded by low X‐ray imaging resolution associated with inadequate radioluminescence (RL) and poor environmental stability. Herein, for the first time a simple but valid Mn2+‐activation strategy is proposed to highly enhance the RL and stability of 0D Cs3Cu2I5 NSs, where the Mn2+ ions are embedded into the highly localized [Cu2I5]3− units by utilizing a modified hot‐injection method. As such, a newly emerged emission band of Mn2+ ion centered at ≈562 nm coupled with much improved intrinsic self‐trapped excitons (STE) emission of the 0D Cs3Cu2I5 host peaking at ≈445 nm can be achieved in these resultant Mn2+‐activated 0D Cs3Cu2I5 NSs, thereby delivering a light yield of 71 000 photons MeV−1 that is much superior to their lead‐based perovskite counterparts and commercial scintillators. As a consequence, X‐ray detectors made of these Mn2+‐activated NSs implement an ultrahigh X‐ray imaging resolution of 16.2 line pairs mm−1 and an ultra‐low detection limit of 127.5 nGyair s−1, highlighting their potential as promising candidates for flexible X‐ray detection and imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐halide perovskites, especially for 3D halide perovskite single crystals (SCs), are emerging as the promising scintillators. However, the strong self‐absorption and low light yield of these perovskites restrict their practical applications. Quantum cutting can convert a high energy photon into multiple low energy photons, endowing a large Stokes shift and high photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY). Here, this work reports a novel quantum cutting material, CsPbClxBr3−x:Yb3+ perovskite SCs, with the PLQY of 149% and a Stokes shift >550 nm, successfully conquering the issues of poor PLQY induced by the thermal quenching and the large self‐absorption in perovskite SCs. Benefiting from the extremely high PLQY and negligible self‐absorption effect, the first high‐performance quantum cutting scintillators based on CsPbClxBr3−x:Yb3+ perovskite SCs are developed, exhibiting high transmittance, large X‐ray absorption/conversion efficiency, outstanding light yield of ≈1.12 × 105 photons MeV−1, and a detection limit as low as 176.5 nGyair s−1. Finally, a single‐pixel X‐ray imaging is achieved by integrating CsPbCl3:Yb3+ SCs with silicon photomultiplier. This work sheds light on exploring highly competitive scintillators beyond the scope of traditional perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead‐halide perovskites have received extensive attention in X‐ray imaging applications recently. However, their poor stability, lead toxicity, and strong light self‐absorption seriously limit the commercial development. Here, we report a vacancy‐ordered Cs2HfCl6 double perovskite for scintillators applications. The Cs2HfCl6 microcrystals (MCs) are characterized by broadband blue emission with a large Stokes shift. Joined experimental‐theoretical characterizations reveal the highly localized charge distribution in Cs2HfCl6 and structural distortion of [HfCl6]2− octahedron in the excited state favor the formation of self‐trapped excitons (STEs), which contribute to the broadband emission. Benefiting from the radioluminescence of STEs with negligible self‐absorption, the light yield of Cs2HfCl6 scintillator reaches 21700 photons/MeV, and the detection limit is 55 nGyair s−1. Additionally, the Cs2HfCl6 scintillator exhibits extremely low hygroscopicity and good resistance to X‐ray irradiation. Further, a large‐area scintillator screen (20×20 cm2) is fabricated by combining scrape‐coating and soft‐pressing techniques, showing a spatial resolution of 11.2 lp mm−1. Given the high spatial resolution and fast light decay of this scintillator screen, static X‐ray imaging of bulky objects is realized, and dynamic X‐ray imaging of a rotating chopping fan is demonstrated without ghosting effects. These results demonstrate the great commercial promise of Cs2HfCl6 scintillation screens for indirect X‐ray detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn2+ dopants introduce a new emission center in semiconductor luminescent materials, endowing them promising photoluminescence (PL) properties, such as a wide color tuning range, reversible color change, reduced self‐absorption etc. Recently, rapid development of Mn2+ doped metal halide perovskites (MHPs) promote their promising applications in displays, photovoltaics, scintillators, etc. The emission color, luminous efficiency, and energy transfer pathway of doped perovskites are affected by condition of host lattice that accommodates Mn2+ ions. In this review, the optical properties determined by host materials with diverse geometries involving perovskite nanocrystals and perovskite derivatives is focused on, and the possible energy transfer routes in different doping systems are analyzed. An overview of recent advances of different doped systems with assigned emission channels together with the influence factors, strategies to enhance PL intensity and finally potential applications are summarized. To the end, the underlying challenges and possible solutions for further research in Mn doped perovskites are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luminescent metal halide perovskites (MHPs) open new avenues for highly efficient radiation detection. To challenge the state‐of‐art technology, fundamental understanding of factors controlling radiation light yield of MHP scintillators is urgent. Herein, a design method is established by simultaneously considering charge‐transfer and recombination efficiencies via band alignment engineering in doped MHPs materials, and this strategy is corroborated experimentally and computationally by applying it to the luminescence of ns2 electron (Sb3+, Bi3+, and Te4+) doped vacancy‐ordered double perovskite Cs2ZrCl6. Alloying Te4+ into Cs2ZrCl6 is optimized and significantly improves the scintillation performance, including a twofold increase in light yield and a threefold increase in detection limit over pristine Cs2ZrCl6, and high‐resolution X‐ray imaging with 20 μm for 2D and 0.2 mm for 3D imaging. It is believed that doping engineering in MHPs enabling band alignment method holds great potential for the development of next‐generation MHP scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskite‐based high‐performance X‐ray scintillator is considered as one of the most favorable candidates applied in the fields of medicine, industry, and science. However, the current X‐ray scilltillators based on perovskites still suffer from the issue of poor stability, which impedes their further wide applications. Herein, a template assembled method to prepare large‐size, flexible, and stable CsPbBr3@Polymethyl methacrylate composite films in ambient conditions is developed and their detection performance is studied. The composite films can maintain 94% and 81% of the initial PL intensity after 2000 cycles bending and storing in water over 2520 h, respectively. In addition, the prepared scintillators exhibit not only a low detection limit of 40.1 nGyair s−1 and a high spatial resolution of 8.0 lp mm−1, but also an excellent tolerance against radiation (108 h). Thus, this simple but yet effective method would not doubt pave the way for further development of scintillators and might be well applicable to other metal halides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the development of X‐ray imaging has promoted the demand for new‐type scintillators, among which low‐toxic manganese(II) complexes have attracted burgeoning research interest. Herein, a highly stable manganese(II) complex with peculiar five‐coordinated modes is reported, which exhibits strong yellow emission peaked at 583 nm originating from d‐d transition of Mn2+ with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) up to 93%. The five‐coordinated manganese(II) complex has been rarely reported so far which is an innovative spot in the field of photofunctional metal complex. Thanks to the high PLQY and relatively large stokes shift, the manganese(II) complex yields bright yellow emission under low‐dose X‐ray irradiation and delivers excellent linear response to X‐ray, highlighting its suitability for X‐ray contrast imaging. Based on this, highly resolved X‐ray imaging is successfully achieved that can meet the requirements of many application scenarios. In addition, this manganese(II) complex demonstrates excellent radiation hardness, humidity resistance, and heat stability, indicating the application potential of scintillators in harsh environments. This research not only provides guidance for the design and fabrication of highly luminescent manganese(II)‐based complexes, but also demonstrates the potential of manganese(II)‐based complexes as scintillators for X‐ray imaging technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]