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0D organic metal halide hybrids (OMHHs) have recently emerged as a new generation of scintillation materials, due to their high luminescence quantum efficiency, sensitivity, stability, and cost‐effectiveness. While numerous 0D OMHH scintillators have been developed to date, most of them are based on solution grown single crystals that require time‐consuming synthesis and are limited in size. Here, high‐performance X‐ray scintillators based on facile solution processed 0D OMHH amorphous films are reported for the first time. By reacting triphenyl(9‐phenyl‐9H‐carbazol‐3‐yl) phosphonium bromide (TPPcarzBr) with manganese bromide (MnBr2), 0D (TPPcarz)₂MnBr₄ amorphous films can be prepared via solution processing with mild thermal annealing, which exhibits green photoluminescence with an emission maximum ≈517 nm and a photoluminescence quantum efficiency of ≈87%. The X‐ray scintillation of 0D (TPPcarz)₂MnBr₄ amorphous films is characterized to exhibit a light yield of 44600 photon MeV−1 and an outstanding linearity with a low limit of detection of 32.42 nGyairs−1 over a wide range of X‐ray dose rates. The versatile processability of 0D (TPPcarz)₂MnBr₄ is illustrated with remarkable recyclability, high cost‐effectiveness, and scalability for large‐scale production. By taking advantage of the amorphous nature of newly designed OMHHs, the approach opens up new opportunities for developing high‐performance, solution‐processable scintillators. [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]

Efficient and stable scintillators play a crucial role in X‐ray detection applications. To enhance the luminescence efficiency under X‐ray excitation, the incorporation of multiple emission centers into scintillators is widely explored. Here, it is found that the cesium copper halide Cs5Cu3Cl6I2 exhibits dual emission centers, enabling high‐performance scintillators with an X‐ray light yield of 49000 photon MeV−1 and a low detection limit of 4 nGy s−1. The emissions of Cs5Cu3Cl6I2 are from intrinsic self‐trapped exciton (STE) and Frenkel defect‐assisted STE. High‐energy X‐rays can induce an increased fraction of Frenkel defect‐assisted STEs, which can serve as an effective scintillation channel. Furthermore, large‐area flexible scintillators with a high resolution of 18 lp mm−1 are developed, making them suitable for X‐ray imaging applications. These findings offer promising insights for developing more efficient scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanide nanoparticle (LnNP) scintillators exhibit huge potential in achieving radionuclide‐activated luminescence (radioluminescence, RL). However, their structure–activity relationship remains largely unexplored. Herein, progressive optimization of LnNP scintillators is presented to unveil their structure‐dependent RL property and enhance their RL output efficiency. Benefiting from the favorable host matrix and the luminescence‐protective effect of core–shell engineering, NaGdF4 : 15 %Eu@NaLuF4 nanoparticle scintillators with tailored structures emerged as the top candidates. Living imaging experiments based on optimal LnNP scintillators validated the feasibility of laser‐free continuous RL activated by clinical radiopharmaceuticals for tumor multiplex visualization. This research provides unprecedented insights into the rational design of LnNP scintillators, which would enable efficient energy conversion from Cerenkov luminescence, γ‐radiation, and β‐electrons into visible photon signals, thus establishing a robust nanotechnology‐aided approach for tumor‐directed radio‐phototheranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high durability under harsh environment including high temperature, high humidity, and high radiation is required for scintillators used for decommissioning of nuclear facilities and radiation monitoring in nuclear fusion reactors. α‐SiAlON ceramics are highly potential for such scintillators because of their thermal and mechanical durability and luminescence corresponding to doped rare‐earth ion. In this study, scintillation properties of transparent Lu‐α‐SiAlON:Ce3+ ceramics were investigated for the first time. Lu‐α‐SiAlON:Ce3+ showed the scintillation responses to α‐rays and X‐rays. The α‐rays‐induced scintillation decay curve consists of two components whose decay time are 48 and 652 ns. The faster decay component most presumably results from 4f‐5d transition of Ce3+, whereas the origin of the slower one is unclear but may be defects in α‐SiAlON. The light yield of the Lu‐α‐SiAlON:Ce3+ ceramics was 1300 photons 5.5 MeV−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanide‐doped scintillators have the ability to convert the absorbed X‐ray irradiation into ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis), or near‐infrared (NIR) light. Lanthanide‐doped scintillators with excellent persistent luminescence (PersL) are emerging as a new class of PersL materials recently. They have attracted great attention due to their unique "self‐luminescence" characteristic and potential applications. In this review, we comb through and focus on current developments of lanthanide‐doped persistent luminescent scintillators (PersLSs), including their PersL mechanism, synthetic methods, tuning of PersL properties (e. g. emission wavelength, intensity, and duration time), as well as their promising applications (e. g. information storage, encryption, anti‐counterfeiting, bio‐imaging, and photodynamic therapy). We hope this review will provide valuable guidance for the future development of PersLSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral hybrid metal halides hold great potential as circularly polarized luminescence light sources. Herein, we have obtained two enantiomeric pairs of one‐dimensional hybrid chiral manganese(II) chloride single crystals, R/S‐(3‐methyl piperidine)MnCl3 (R/S‐1) and R/S‐(3‐hydroxy piperidine)MnCl3 (R/S‐2), crystallizing in the non‐centrosymmetric space group P212121. In comparison to R/S‐1, R/S‐2 single crystals not only show red emission with near‐unity photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and high resistance to thermal quenching but also exhibit circularly polarized luminescence with an asymmetry factor (glum) of 2.5×10−3, which can be attributed to the enhanced crystal rigidity resulting from the hydrogen bonding networks between R/S‐(3‐hydroxy piperidine) cations and [MnCl6]4− chains. The circularly polarized luminescence activities originate from the asymmetric [MnCl6]4− luminophores induced by N−H⋅⋅⋅Cl hydrogen bonding with R/S‐(3‐hydroxy piperidine). Moreover, these samples demonstrate great application potential in circularly polarized light‐emitting diodes and X‐ray scintillators. This work shows a highly efficient photoluminescent Mn‐based halide and offers a strategy for designing multifunctional chiral metal halides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillators with high light yield, spatial resolution, and detection sensitivity are desirable for X‐ray imaging. Howerer, it remains challenging to improve the light yield and radiation detection capability of alkali metal rare‐earth fluoride (ALnF4). Herein, a type of Cu2+ ion heterovalent co‐doped LiLuF4:Tb,Cu microcrystalline scintillation material with high light yield, persistent, and thermostimulated luminescence is obtained by defect engineering. The heterovalent codoping strategy not only increases the radioluminescence (RL) intensity, but also introduces more carrier traps in the material to enhance the long‐afterglow and thermoluminescence intensity of LiLuF4:Tb microcrystals. After doping of 3 mol% Cu2+ ions, the RL efficiency is increased by 88.61%, and the X‐ray detection limit of LiLuF4:Tb,Cu reaches 2.7928 nGy·s‒1. This detectivity is considerably lower than the medical imaging requirements (5.5 µGy·s‒1). Furthermore, a large‐area flexible scintillation film of dimensions 30 × 30 cm2 is prepared to achieve high spatial resolution X‐ray imaging of 22 LP mm−1@MTF(modulation transfer function) = 0.2. Besides, this flexible film enables X‐ray imaging of curved objects and stores optical information for >48 h. This work provides a paradigm for improving the RL intensity and X‐ray detection sensitivity of alkali rare‐earth fluorides by crystal defect engineering, and enriches X‐ray high resolution extended imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near‐infrared (NIR) luminescent metal halide (LMH) materials have attracted great attention in various optoelectronic applications due to their low‐temperature solution‐processable synthesis, abundant crystallographic/electronic structures, and unique optoelectronic properties. However, some challenges still remain in their luminescence design, performance improvement, and application assignments. This review systematically summarizes the development of NIR LMHs through classifying NIR luminescent origins into four major categories: band‐edge emission, self‐trapped exciton (STE) emission, ion emission, and defect‐related emission. The luminescence mechanisms of different types of NIR LMHs are discussed in detail by analyzing typical examples. Reasonable strategies for designing and optimizing luminescence/optoelectronic properties of NIR LMHs are summarized, including bandgap engineering, self‐trapping state engineering, chemical composition modification, energy transfer, and other auxiliary strategies such as improvement of synthesis scheme and post‐processing. Furthermore, application prospects based on the optoelectronic devices are revealed, including phosphor‐converted light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), electroluminescent LEDs, photodetectors, solar cells, and x‐ray scintillators, as well as demonstrations of some related practical applications. Finally, the existing challenges and future perspectives on the development of NIR LMH materials are critically proposed. This review aims to provide general understanding and guidance for the design of high‐performance NIR LMHs materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillators, which can convert high‐energy particles (X‐rays) into detectable low‐energy ultraviolet–visible–near‐infrared photons, are essential components of X‐ray detectors and show extensive practical applications in nondestructive detection and medical imaging. Traditionally, inorganic scintillators represented by CsI:Tl have achieved definite progress. However, the harsh preparation conditions, high production cost, and poor mechanical properties impede their potential development in the high‐end X‐ray imaging field. Organic–inorganic hybrid metal complexes could be excellent alternatives, by virtue of their structural and spectral tunability, good solution processability, and excellent photophysical properties. This review mainly focuses on eco‐friendly lead‐free metal (Mn2+, Cu+, Sb3+, Sn2+, Ge2+, Ln3+, etc.) complex scintillators. The luminescence mechanisms are introduced and the scintillation performance, such as light yield, limit of detection, imaging resolution, etc., is highlighted. Moreover, the current challenges and perspectives in this emerging field are described. It is hoped to provide some theoretical guidance for the continuous development of the new scintillator systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its short radiation length, moderate light output (8000‐9000 photons/MeV), high density (7.13 g cm−3), and non‐hygroscopicity, etc., Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) material has been widely utilized as an advanced scintillator for irradiation detection. However, pure BGO cannot meet the requirements for future physics experiments and state‐of‐art industrial facilities coupled with a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) due to its slow response time, poor radiation resistance, and excessive light output. Herein, a Ce‐doping strategy is reported for efficiently improving the overall performance (e.g., irradiation resistance, decay time, radioluminescence, and light output) of BGO that can be expectedly applied in future high energy physics detection. Ce‐doped BGO (BGO:Ce) displays higher radiation resistance ability under 10 h UV irradiation (97% of original) and a faster fluorescence lifetime (269 ns), superior to pure BGO. Furthermore, BGO:Ce shows ≈30% luminescence intensity of pure BGO, well eliminating the oversaturation of SiPM coupled with scintillation detectors. Theoretical calculations imply that an intense competition between electron or hole traps and Ce ions (Ce3+, Ce4+) can effectively reduce the concentration of color centers, thus enhancing irradiation resistance ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demands of X‐ray detection and medical diagnosis, organic scintillators with intense and tunable X‐ray excited emission have been becoming important. To guarantee the X‐ray absorption, heavy atoms were widely added in reported organic scintillators, which led to emission quenching. In this work, we propose a new strategy to realize organic scintillators through the host‐guest doping strategy. Then the X‐ray absorption centers (host) and emission centers (guest) are separated. Under X‐ray excitation, these materials displayed intense and readily tunable emissions ranging from green (520 nm) to near infrared (NIR) regions (682 nm). Besides, the relationship between the X‐ray absorption and spatial arrangement of the heavy atoms in the host matrix was also revealed. The potential application of these wide‐range color tunable organic host‐guest scintillators in X‐ray imaging were demonstrated. This work provides a new feasible strategy for constructing high‐performance organic scintillators with tunable luminescence properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce ceramics are widely used as scintillator materials that convert high‐energy radiation into visible light. For the practical application of such compounds, short decay times are a necessity. One way of shortening the existing decay times even more is to change the local environment of emitting ions by means of doping the matrix with additional elements, for example, boron or magnesium. Furthermore, boron ions also can help absorb gamma rays more efficiently, therefore improving overall applicability. Due to the aforementioned reasons, YAG and LuAG ceramics doped with cerium, boron, and magnesium were synthesized. Initial amorphous powders have been obtained by means of sol–gel synthesis and pressed into pellets under isostatic pressure and finally calcinated to form crystalline ceramics. The effects of boron and magnesium doping on the morphological, structural, and luminescence properties were investigated. The key results showed that doping with boron has indeed shortened the decay times of the garnet pellets. Overall, boron doping of ceramics is a relatively new research area; however, it is rather promising as it helps both to improve the luminescence properties and to increase particle growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (I) based halide scintillators have received high attention due to their high light yield. At the same time, researchers are increasingly interested in exploring organic‐inorganic hybrid copper(I) based halides, due to the diversity and tunability of structures. Here, we describe high‐efficiency photoluminescence and X‐ray excited luminescence in (DFPD)3Cu2I5 (1) (DFPD=4,4‐difluoro‐bipiperidinium). 1 is comprised of a unique [Cu2I5]3− cluster, which have typical structure allowing high‐transition‐probability self‐trapped exciton emission (one Cu+ ion adopts the tetrahedral coordination geometry, the other trigonal planar coordination geometry, the Cu−Cu distance (2.574 Å) is short). Accordingly, 1 shows efficient yellow‐green photoluminescence with the maximum at 527 nm, a full‐width at half‐maximum of 99.2 nm, a large Stokes shift of 214 nm (1.6 eV) and a quantum yield of 77.15 %. Polycrystalline 1 can also convert high‐energy X‐ray photons into UV‐visible pulsed fluorescence with the light yield of 5000 photons/MeV. This finding plays a valuable role in the development of organic‐inorganic hybrid copper(I) based scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (I) based halide scintillators have received high attention due to their high light yield. At the same time, researchers are increasingly interested in exploring organic‐inorganic hybrid copper(I) based halides, due to the diversity and tunability of structures. Here, we describe high‐efficiency photoluminescence and X‐ray excited luminescence in (DFPD)3Cu2I5 (1) (DFPD=4,4‐difluoro‐bipiperidinium). 1 is comprised of a unique [Cu2I5]3− cluster, which have typical structure allowing high‐transition‐probability self‐trapped exciton emission (one Cu+ ion adopts the tetrahedral coordination geometry, the other trigonal planar coordination geometry, the Cu−Cu distance (2.574 Å) is short). Accordingly, 1 shows efficient yellow‐green photoluminescence with the maximum at 527 nm, a full‐width at half‐maximum of 99.2 nm, a large Stokes shift of 214 nm (1.6 eV) and a quantum yield of 77.15 %. Polycrystalline 1 can also convert high‐energy X‐ray photons into UV‐visible pulsed fluorescence with the light yield of 5000 photons/MeV. This finding plays a valuable role in the development of organic‐inorganic hybrid copper(I) based scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high‐performance X‐ray detectors requires scintillators with fast decay time, high light yield, stability, and X‐ray absorption capacity, which are difficult to achieve in a single material. Here, we present the first example of a lanthanide chalcogenide of LaCsSiS4 : 1 % Ce3+ that simultaneously integrates multiple desirable properties for an ideal scintillator. LaCsSiS4 : 1 % Ce3+ demonstrates a remarkably low detection limit of 43.13 nGyair s−1 and a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 98.24 %, resulting in a high light yield of 50480±1441 photons/MeV. Notably, LaCsSiS4 : 1 % Ce3+ exhibits a fast decay time of only 29.35±0.16 ns, making it one of the fastest scintillators among all lanthanide‐based inorganic scintillators. Furthermore, this material shows robust radiation and moisture resistance, endowing it with suitability for chemical processing under solution conditions. To demonstrate the X‐ray imaging capacity of LaCsSiS4 : 1 % Ce3+, we fabricated a flexible X‐ray detector that achieved a high spatial resolution of 8.2 lp mm−1. This work highlights the potential of lanthanide chalcogenide as a promising candidate for high‐performance scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical, photo, and X-ray luminescence properties of Sm3+ ion-doped Li2O-Al2O3-Gd2O3-B2O3-P2O5 glasses are evaluated. The glasses are fabricated by the melt quenching technique. The absorption spectra exhibit the hypersensitive transitions 6H5/2→6P3/2 and 6H5/2→6F7/2 0at the visible and near-infrared range respectively. The glasses display four major transitions characteristic of Sm3+ ion for photoluminescence and X-ray luminescence, with the most intense one corresponding to the 4G5/2→6H7/2 transition. The best emitting samarium concentration obtained by X-ray excitation is compared to BGO crystals. The integral scintillation efficiency of glass is determined by total area under all of peak spectrum. The results indicate the promising application of these glasses in scintillators and for X-ray sensing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bis‐heteroleptic Ru(II) complex, 1[PF6]2 of a benzimidazole substituted pyridyl‐1,2,3‐triazole ligand (BiPT) for highly selective luminescence turn‐on detection of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is reported. Detection of HOCl is achieved by the Markovnikov addition of HOCl to the C=C bond of 1,2,3‐triazole and a successive highly specific C(sp2)‐H chlorination at the C5 position of 1,2,3‐triazole. The chlorination at C5 in 1,2,3‐triazole is supported by high‐resolution mass spectrometry and 1H NMR study. 1[PF6]2 shows high sensitivity towards HOCl in PBS buffer (pH 7.4) containing 5 % acetonitrile with a 37‐fold luminescence light‐up and a detection limit as low as 7.5 μM. HOCl mediated C(sp2)‐H chlorination increases the 3MC‐3MLCT energy gap as well as the population of the 3MLCT excited state and exhibits the radiative decay from the excited state of 1. The probe showed low cytotoxicity and efficiently permeated the cell membrane. The cell‐imaging experiments revealed rapid staining of the HeLa cells in the presence of exogenous HOCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although low‐dimensional hybrid metal halides have emerged as promising light emitters due to their broadband emission originated from self‐trapped exciton (STE), the synthesis of lead‐free halides with high photoluminescence quantum yield remains a challenge. Herein, a series of new luminescent single crystals of antimony‐based metal halides [Na(DMSO)2]3SbBr6−xClx (x = 0, 2, 3, 4, 6) is synthesized. By optimizing the ratio of Br and Cl, [Na(DMSO)2]3SbBr3Cl3 exhibits an ultra‐broadband yellow light emission peaking at 606 nm with a full width at half‐maximum of 160 nm and a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 90.6%. Both experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations indicate that STE emission is responsible for the ultra‐broadband yellow light emission. Furthermore, blue LED chip‐pumped white light‐emitting diodes by using the yellow‐emitting [Na(DMSO)2]3SbBr3Cl3 are demonstrated, showing a correlated color temperature of 3948 K and a color rendering index of 85. Finally, a large‐size and flexible [Na(DMSO)2]3SbBr3Cl3 scintillator used for X‐ray imaging is prepared by a template assembled method, exhibiting a high spatial resolution of 15.5 lp mm−1 and a low detection limit of 285.8 nGyair s−1. This work highlights the potential of Sb‐based halides in solid‐state illumination and X‐ray imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A special group of luminescence materials are scintillators for thermal neutron detection. Due to the properties of neutrons (contrary to e.g. electrons or gamma photons), a different approach has to be utilized—the high content of atoms with the sufficient absorption cross‐section toward neutrons and lower material density are needed. This work pursues a basic study of LiSrBO3 and LiSr4(BO3)3 doped with cerium or europium—materials promising as thermal neutron scintillators. These borates exhibit promising properties such as the high content of lithium and boron, suitable density, and proper environment for luminescent ions. Radioluminescence of these ceramic borates doped with cerium and europium was examined and promising samples were further characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy and radioluminescence and photoluminescence kinetics measurement. The radioluminescence study of these borates is published for the first time. Cerium‐doped borates, in particular, exhibit a very promising response to an X‐ray excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for radiation detection in many applications has led to demanding requirements for scintillators. Realizing low‐dose, pollution‐free, and reliable X‐ray detection has become a key technical challenge. Here, a triplet‐enhanced lanthanide radioluminescence (RL) material Ga3+/Tb3+ metallacrowns (Tb‐1) is reported. This Tb‐1 crystal emits bright green luminescence under ultraviolet light or X‐ray excitation, and the emission intensity is 286 and 242 times that of Tb3+ in inorganic salt, respectively. Tb‐1 crystal is further passivated by trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), and the enhanced RL intensity is equivalent to that of commercial Tl‐doped cesium iodide scintillator. In addition, RL of Tb‐1–TOPO has an extremely narrow full width at half maximum and an excellent linear response to the X‐ray dose rate. The detection limit is calculated to be 0.146 μGy s−1, which is 38 times lower than typical medical imaging doses. Triplet‐enhanced lanthanide RL provides new ideas for replacing scintillators that require high temperature synthesis processes such as inorganic phosphors and ceramics, and provides a new alternative scintillator material for flexible X‐ray monitoring, bioimaging, radiotherapy, and other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium iodides are very efficient single‐crystal scintillators for thermal neutron detection. Doping with silver, as activator ions, has shown to improve its limitation of discriminating gamma background by introducing pulse shape discrimination ability. To improve the scintillation performance, single crystals of LiI:Ag, codoped with different concentration of Sr ions, are grown and characterized in details. A systematic investigation of radioluminescence, thermoluminescence, and scintillation properties along with the decay kinetics provides better understanding about the role of defect structure in scintillation mechanism. The extra charge, provided by Sr2+ ions, is found to alter the defect structure with relative reduction of the contribution from the deeper trap centers in comparison with the shallow traps. Consequently, it leads to a significant improvement of light yield quenching under higher excitation density of charged particle irradiation. The 0.1% Sr codoped crystals provide a better discrimination ability of neutron and gamma radiations for simultaneous detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The luminescent property of 2D perovskite materials promotes their applications in light emitting diodes, phosphor powders, and scintillators. Recently, an interesting extrinsic low‐energy broadband luminescence is hotly investigated. However, the understanding of such emissions is still at the early stage. In this study, based on a modified solvent evaporation method, centimeter‐size (BDA)PbI4 (BDA = NH3C4H8NH32+) single crystals are grown which, besides the band–band emission, show a large Stokes‐shifted broadband luminescence. We find such emission can be effectively excited by sub‐gap photons and conclude defects‐induced shallow traps are the corresponding luminescence centers. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that in‐plane iodine vacancies can introduce shallow electron traps in the band gap and give rise to the broadband emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce‐doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) is among the efficient rare‐earth garnet scintillators and phosphors. Herein, a computational and experimental study of complex F‐type defect centers formed in YAG by doping with cerium and carbon is addressed. The formation energies determined by ab initio calculations of different defects and atomic chemical potentials in YAG:Ce,C are discussed in O‐poor and O‐rich conditions corresponding to the crystal growth under Ar+CO reducing atmosphere, and postgrowth annealing in air, respectively. It is shown that as‐grown crystals contain numerous positively charged defects responsible for F‐type center formation, whereas mainly negative‐charged defects are remained after the annealing in air. The negatively charged defects located nearby Ce luminescence center occupying Y site may stabilize cerium in the tetravalent state and promote a hole transport to this luminescence center. This describes a high scintillation efficiency of Ce,C‐doped garnets. Furthermore, YAG:C and YAG:Ce,C with a high carbon concentration, in addition to luminescence peaked at 400 ns ascribed to F+‐type centers, possess a fast luminescence peaked around 650 nm that may be attributed to the complex defect centers. These unveiled features of the luminescence process in rare‐earth garnets may contribute to the development of efficient luminescence materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillators convert high‐energy radiation into visible luminescence and have been widely applied in various significant fields such as nuclear fusion monitoring, high‐energy particle physics, medical imaging, and geological exploration. The scalable fabrication of scintillating fiber with the desirable combination of uniform size, superior radiation blocking ability, and excellent thermal/radiation stability is a major challenge. Here, a template solidification strategy for fabrication of full‐inorganic and efficient scintillating fiber is presented. The strategy involves the direct solidification of high‐density scintillator melt in a softened silica tube, allowing for the continuous production of small and uniform scintillating fiber. The fabricated scintillating fiber can effectively attenuate radiation up to ≈118 times higher than what conventional silica fiber can. In addition, it exhibits good compatibility with commercial fiber. Using this scintillating fiber, a radiation fiber detector is constructed and its application for online radiation monitoring is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pioneered by our group, thallium (Tl)‐based inorganic halide single‐crystals are potential new scintillators. Most of these scintillators exhibit excellent scintillation performance, including peak emission between 370 and 450 nm, good energy resolutions, high light yield (more than 50 000 ph MeV‐1) and fast decay‐time (less than 40 ns). In addition, these scintillators demonstrate good pulse shape discrimination capability. The grown pure crystals show strong luminescence and high light yields due to the presence of Tl ion in the host lattice. Thanks to the high Z‐number and density of the Tl, the grown scintillators have high density (ρ > 4 g cm−3) and high effective Z‐number (Zeff ≥ 60). Being hygroscopic, like other halide scintillators, these single crystals are grown by the Bridgman technique. It is expected that the discovered scintillators will perform better than most commercial scintillators used in different applications. Significant improvement in the scintillation properties are achieved with the modification of the crystal growth procedure of the grown scintillators. Preliminary results revealed that these scintillators are very promising from an application point of view, while further investigations are underway for the enhancement of the present scintillators as well as for the discovery of new compounds of this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fact that the scheelite based compounds are of high technological importance in the area of scintillator and optoelectronics, makes their detailed photophysical study relevant not only for fundamental material science but also in tailoring their optical properties for advanced applications. With this view, we have carried out a very systematic study on near infra‐red (NIR) emitting Nd3+ doped CaWO4, SrWO4, and BaWO4 compounds. Light emitting efficiency in AWO4:Nd3+ is governed strongly by radiative/nonradiative properties, host‐dopant energy transfer (HDET) efficiency and defect density. We have used photoluminescence, positron annihilation, and photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy to study the factors effecting light emission. These scheelites are known to exhibit self activated luminescence in visible region due to charge transfer within the tungstate group and wavelength maxima exhibited red shift as we move from Ca→Sr→Ba. This can provide a new strategy to achieve spectral tunability in AWO4 scheelite by changing A2+ ionic radius. The fractional intensity in the green region is least in the case of SrWO4 samples suggesting that the oxygen vacancy density is minimal in case of SrWO4 which is well‐supported by the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). Based on our studies, we found that the HDET was highly efficient in CaWO4:Nd3+ and minimal in BaWO4:Nd3+ which get's reflected in photoluminescence intensity. Emission lifetimes are shorter in CaWO4 and highest in SrWO4 host which are in sync with positron annihilation lifetime values. Based on our results of PALS, it was found that CaWO4:Nd3+ has the highest concentration of defects i.e. cation vacancies; so larger is the probability of nonradiative signals and hence higher PA intensity from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu‐doped CaF2 is studied for use as a scintillator. Herein, the 3D spatial distribution of Eu ions doped in CaF2 crystal is evaluated. It is confirmed that both divalent and trivalent Eu ions are doped in CaF2 crystals from the luminescence spectra of the Eu‐doped CaF2 crystals. Using bandpass filter, the 3D spatial distribution of divalent and trivalent Eu ions is measured, respectively. The 3D spatial distribution of divalent Eu ions with ionic radius larger than that of Ca site is nonuniform with mesh‐like pattern. In contrast, the 3D spatial distribution of trivalent Eu ions with ionic radius smaller than that of Ca site is uniform. In Eu‐doped CaF2 crystals grown by micropulling down method, strain caused by the difference in lattice constants between CaF2 and a seed crystal is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and characterization of the optical properties of a neodymium(III)‐doped 42.75AlF3–33.25CaF2–19BaF2–5YF3 (Nd3+‐doped BCA‐5Y) glass in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region are reported. Photoluminescence peaks at 180 and 227 nm are observed upon excitation with the 157 nm emission of a F2 laser. The dominant 180 nm emission peak is assigned to the 4f25d–4f3 (4I9/2 level) transition in Nd3+. This emission peak exhibits a fast, single exponential luminescence with a 16 ns decay time. The strong luminescence intensity and the fast decay time allude to its prospects for scintillator applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li+ codoping of Gd3(Ga, Al)5O12:Ce (GGAG:Ce) single crystals induces the acceleration of scintillation decay time. However, its effect on the scintillation properties of GGAG:Ce remains poorly understood. Herein, the relationship between Ce/Li concentration and scintillation properties is investigated. GGAG crystals with a range of Ce and Li concentrations are grown by the Czochralski method and the scintillation decay and light output of GGAG:Ce, Li are measured. The results show comparable or improved performance compared with conventional scintillators. In optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL) measurements, the conversion of the stable Ce3+ to Ce4+ is not observed in a clear manner in GGAG:Ce samples with variable Li concentration. Instead, some defect‐related absorption seems to appear. Temperature dependence of PL decay for samples with variable Ce concentration is also evaluated. A shift of the luminescence quenching temperature is observed for GGAG samples with >0.2% Ce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest toward the development of high‐Z–sensitized organic scintillators is related with the potential possibility to merge the advantages of organic materials with those of inorganics. In fact, organic plastic scintillators offer large‐area applications and fast response at a low cost, yet their performances for high‐energy photons and charged particles are limited by the poor stopping power related with low‐Z materials. The real‐time optical investigation in terms of steady‐state luminescence spectra of polysiloxane/quantum dot (QD) nanocomposite samples under 2 MeV proton irradiation is presented. Results show an increase in the light yield of the polysiloxane samples embedding QDs up to 8% in comparison with the undoped polymer, paving the way for high‐Z sensitization through QDs in polysiloxane‐based active radiation detection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scintillators are a unique class of luminescent materials with specific applications towards radiation detection. The emitters within state‐of‐the‐art scintillators are mostly limited to bismuth, cerium, europium, thallium, lead, tungsten, etc. A shared feature of these elements is the relatively high atomic number, which is responsible for high radiation stopping power and radiation‐induced luminescence. Searching for new scintillating materials is an essential target aiming at specific applications. In this Concept article, we will discuss our recent works on the topic of "uranyl‐bearing scintillators". As a virgin territory in this field, uranyl‐bearing scintillators show intrinsic merits for designing new materials with X‐ray detection capability, that is, the large photoelectric cross‐section, high X‐ray attenuation efficiency, and high crystal density. In addition, we also present challenges in the further development of the uranyl‐bearing scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unveiling the underlying mechanisms of properties of functional materials, including the luminescence differences among similar pyrochlores A2B2O7, opens new gateways to select proper hosts for various optoelectronic applications by scientists and engineers. For example, although La2Zr2O7 (LZO) and La2Hf2O7 (LHO) pyrochlores have similar chemical compositional and crystallographic structural features, they demonstrate different luminescence properties both before and after doped with Eu3+ ions. Based on our earlier work, LHO‐based nanophosphors display higher photo‐ and radioluminescence intensity, higher quantum efficiency, and longer excited state lifetime compared to LZO‐based nanophosphors. Moreover, under electronic O2−→Zr4+/Hf4+ transition excitation at 306 nm, undoped LHO nanoparticles (NPs) have only violet blue emission, whereas LZO NPs show violet blue and red emissions. In this study, we have combined experimental and density functional theory (DFT) based theoretical calculation to explain the observed results. First, we calculated the density of state (DOS) based on DFT and studied the energetics of ionized oxygen vacancies in the band gaps of LZO and LHO theoretically, which explain their underlying luminescence difference. For Eu3+‐doped NPs, we performed emission intensity and lifetime calculations and found that the LHOE NPs have higher host to dopant energy transfer efficiency than the LZOE NPs (59.3% vs 24.6%), which accounts for the optical performance superiority of the former over the latter. Moreover, by corroborating our experimental data with the DFT calculations, we suggest that the Eu3+ doping states in LHO present at exact energy position (both in majority and minority spin components) where oxygen defect states are located unlike those in LZO. Lastly, both the NPs show negligible photobleaching highlighting their potential for bioimaging applications. This current report provides a deeper understanding of the advantages of LHO over LZO as an advanced host for phosphors, scintillators, and fluoroimmunoassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tb3+‐doped germanate glass ceramics containing CaF2 nanocrystals were prepared by melt quenching method with subsequent heat treatment. Their microstructures were investigated by XRD and TEM techniques. Their optical properties were studied by the transmittance, the photoluminescence, and the X‐ray excited luminescence (XEL). The luminescence intensity in the glass ceramics under 377 nm light and X‐ray excitations is significantly enhanced. The maximum integrated XEL intensity of the glass ceramics is about 50% of that of the commercial Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) scintillating crystal. The results indicate that Tb3+‐doped germanate glass ceramic could be a promising scintillating material used in X‐ray detection for slow event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel Tb3+‐activated borogermanate‐tellurite scintillating glasses with a maximum density of 7.15 g/cm3 aimed at detection of high‐energy rays were prepared by a melt‐quenching method for the first time. The concentration‐dependent optical properties including transmittance, photoluminescence, luminescence dynamic behaviors, and X‐ray excited luminescence in the as‐prepared Tb3+‐activated borogermanate‐tellurite glasses were studied. The optimal content of Tb2O3 in the superdense borogermanate‐tellurite glasses is revealed to be 7 mol% under both 275 nm ultraviolet light and X‐ray excitation. The integral scintillation efficiency of Tb3+‐activated borogermanate‐tellurite scintillating glass is about 33.71% of the standard Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) scintillating crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible X-Ray Detector, Lanthanide Chalcogenide Scintillator, Luminescence, X-Ray Imaging Keywords: Flexible X-Ray Detector; Lanthanide Chalcogenide Scintillator; Luminescence; X-Ray Imaging EN Flexible X-Ray Detector Lanthanide Chalcogenide Scintillator Luminescence X-Ray Imaging 1 1 1 08/10/23 20230814 NES 230814 B Scintillators b . Frontispiece: Emergence of a Lanthanide Chalcogenide as an Ideal Scintillator for a Flexible X-ray Detector. [Extracted from the article]

Scintillation performances of carbon-doped YAG and YAG:Ce crystals obtained by the Czochralski method under novel conditions of Ar+CO reducing atmosphere is compared to their counterparts obtained by conventional technologies. While light yield and energy resolution in YAG crystals grown under different conditions is similar, a fast luminescence decay component of 4-6 ns is observed in YAG:C grown by the new procedure. Optimization of post-growth thermal annealing procedure of YAG:Ce,C scintillator provides the very high light yield of 28 200 phot MeV-1, and the energy resolution of 7.8-8.5% at 662 KeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the recent progress in study of light yield behavior in scintillators based on solid solutions (mixed crystals), which are among the brightest known scintillators. Following the prior work [O. Sidletskiy et al., Phys. Status Solidi A 2014, 211, 2384], the extended phenomenological analysis of the correlations between light yield behavior and physical properties of mixed crystals (band gaps of the components, ionic radii, and atomic weights of the substitutional atoms) is carried out. The trend to light yield enhancement is notable in systems with the substitution of atoms in two non‐equivalent crystallographic sites in the lattice leading to formation of planes and columns enriched with one of the substitutional atoms. This evidences an important role of nanoscale spatial inhomogeneity (domains or clusters) in scintillation process in mixed scintillators. A roadmap of search for new bright scintillators is proposed basing on the established trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The development of scintillators is of fundamental and industrial meaning for their diverse applications. Despite the great advance in scintillating mono‐crystals, challenge remains to search for novel scintillating materials with low cost, large volume, and high efficiency. Here, Tb3+‐doped glass ceramics (GC) with crystallized Lu6O5F8 nano‐crystals were prepared and characterized as potential X‐ray scintillators. Their structural, optical, and luminescent properties were explored systematically. After thermal treatment, X‐ray excited luminescence (XEL) intensity from Lu6O5F8:Tb3+ GC is greatly increased and the relative intensity is about 64% of commercial BGO scintillator, benefiting from preferential enrichment of Tb3+ ions into Lu6O5F8 nano‐crystals with low phonon energy. Moreover, unusual decay behaviors of Tb3+ emissions in GC sample are observed and discussed. Our results indicate that rare earth doped GC may offer a novel platform for designing and fabricating new scintillating materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transparent gadolinium-rich oxyhalide glass scintillator was developed for gamma ray spectroscopy with an energy resolution of 14.0% at 662 keV. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest energy resolution reported for a glass-based scintillator. The high gadolinium content facilitated a scintillator density of 4.4 g/cm3. The high fluorine and bromine incorporation is advantageous for better uniformity and a good light output of ~3200 Ph/MeV. The peak emission at 431 nm with a FWHM of 90 nm, resulting from the fast Ce3+ transitions, yielded pulse-height spectra with distinctive peaks from 122 keV to 1.33 keV for gamma radiation from different nuclides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ce3+,Pr3+-codoped SiO2-Al2O3-B2O3-Gd2O3 glasses (SABG:Ce,Pr) were prepared by melt quenching under a CO reducing atmosphere. Luminescence properties were investigated under UV and X-ray excitations. A dominant emission band at 430 nm belonging to the Ce3+:5d1 → 4f transition was observed in the photo- and radio-luminescence spectra. The energy transfer occurs from this Ce3+ band toward the 3PJ levels of Pr3+ with an efficiency of up to 24%, followed by the reduction of integrated luminescence intensity with an increasing Pr3+ concentration. This result is attributed to the increase in the reabsorption of Ce3+ luminescence and the non-radiative energy transfer toward the 3PJ levels of Pr3+. The cross-relaxation process within the Pr3+ pairs can further diminish the total luminescence yield at high Pr3+ concentrations. The integral scintillation efficiency and light yield measurements were carried out and compared to the reference Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of new scintillation materials ACaBr3:Eu2+ (A = K, Rb) were grown using the Bridgman-Stockbarger method. The luminescence spectra of RbCa1-xEuxBr3 crystals include a single band with a maximum which position shifts from 433 to 443 nm with the increase of mole fraction of Eu2+ from 0.005 to 0.08. The decay of the scintillation pulse can be described using single component and the decay time rises towards concentration of Eu2+ in crystals from 2.70 μs (x = 0.03) to 3.14 μs (x = 0.05). The relative light yield achieves 77 per cent vs. NaI:Tl for RbCa0.92Eu0.08Cl3 sample and the energy resolution is 8.2%. Comparing with the K-based analogs RbCa1-xEuxBr3 materials are more stable and they are considerably brighter scintillators than CsCa1-xEuxBr3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-resolved luminescence properties of Ce3+ doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG) nanocrystals have been studied by means of vacuum-ultraviolet excitation spectroscopy. It was discovered that additionally to the regular Ce3+ yellow-green emission which is well-known luminescence in YAG, new emission covering a broad spectral range from 2.7 eV to 3.5 eV was revealed in the luminescence spectra for all YAG:Ce nanocrystals studied. This blue-UV emission has fast decay time about 7 ns as well as intensive well-resolved excitation band peaking at 5.9 eV and, in contrast to green Ce3+ emission, practically is not excited at higher energies. The origin of the blue-UV emission is tentatively suggested and discussed. (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caesium iodide is one of the most extensively studied scintillators. Here, we present X-ray luminescence spectra, scintillation light output and decay curves as a function of temperature, from room temperature down to below 10 K. Features of the observed intrinsic luminescence are explained in terms of radiative recombination of on- and off-center STE. A model permitting interpretation of the dynamics of luminescence changes in CsI with temperature is suggested. This model includes adiabatic potential energy surfaces (APES) associated with singlet and triplet states of self-trapped excitons (STE) and explains the variation of the luminescence spectra with temperature as a result of re-distribution in the population between on- and off-center STE. The temperature dependence of the scintillation light yield is discussed in the framework of the Onsager mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of different activator impurities on the scintillation yield of alkali halides has been investigated as a function of temperature. Luminescence spectra of pure and activated CsI and NaI scintillation crystals were measured under X-ray and VUV excitation at temperatures from 10 to 300 K. In indium- and thallium-doped crystals activator centers can capture electrons. Along with self-trapping of holes at low temperatures, electron capture by the dopant results in energy storage. This leads to a significant decrease of luminescence yield. In Eu-doped NaI and CsI crystals activator centers capture a hole first. In this way, at low temperatures electrons recombine either with self-trapped holes (yielding STE emission), or with holes trapped by the activator (giving rise to Eu emission band). No energy loss at low temperature is evident in CsI:Eu and NaI:Eu crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singulett ‐ Biradikaloide der Hauptgruppenelemente wurden in den letzten 20 Jahren gründlich untersucht, insbesondere Derivate des Cyclobutan ‐ 1,3 ‐ diyls. Jedoch sind in jedem der bekannten Beispiele die Radikalzentren äquivalent. Daher wollten wir ein gemischtes Dipniktadiazandiyl herstellen, in dem P und As den Radikalcharakter tragen. Um das Ziel zu erreichen, musste zunächst das Dichlorcycloarsaphosphadiazan [ClP(μ ‐ NTer)2AsCl] synthetisiert werden. Durch Chloridabstraktion von [ClP(μ ‐ NTer)2AsCl] wurde das cyclische Kation [P(μ ‐ NTer)2AsCl]+ erhalten, während die Reduktion mit Magnesium zum Arsaphosphadiazandiyl [P(μ ‐ NTer)2As] führte. Wenn man zu zweit ist, kann man nicht zu radikal sein: Das erste Biradikaloid mit unterschiedlichen Radikalzentren, das heteroatomare Biradikaloid [P(μ ‐ NR)2As], wurde durch Reduktion des entsprechenden Dichlorarsaphosphadiazans mit Magnesium erhalten. Die Molekülstruktur weist für den planaren viergliedrigen N2PAs ‐ Ring eine charakteristische Drachenform mit zwei gleichen P ‐ N ‐ und As ‐ N ‐ Abständen auf. CASSCF ‐ Rechnungen belegen einen Biradikalcharakter von 28 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments of plastic scintillators are reviewed, from 2000 to March 2014, distributed in two different chapters. First chapter deals with the chemical modifications of the polymer backbone, whereas modifications of the fluorescent probe are presented in the second chapter. All examples are provided with the scope of detection of various radiation particles. The main characteristics of these newly created scintillators and their detection properties are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the ability to use the melt-level control for stabilization of the crystallization rate during NaI crystal growth by the VGF technique with a skull layer. It is shown that a conventional linear decrease of the heater temperature leads to a nonuniform crystallization rate and deterioration of crystal quality. A method and algorithm of temperature control for the stabilization of the crystallization rate during crystal growth is proposed. The series of growth experiments with NaI(Tl) crystals proved the efficiency of this approach and ability to obtain scintillators with high registration efficiency, about 6.3% energy resolution for a 137Cs (662 keV) source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An array of monolayer of periodic nanospheres is used to efficiently extract the light from a scintillator of high refractive indexwith broadband capability. Compared with the plain sample without nanospheres, the enhancement of wavelength- and angleintegrated luminescence by 72 and 68% can be achieved under the excitation of ultraviolet and g-ray radiation, respectively. The whispering-gallery modes for the individual sphere and the periodic arrangement are responsible for the enhancement of light extraction. Such a photonic structure is advantageous over the traditional two-dimensional photonic crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]