Flash synthesis of high-performance and color-tunable copper(I)-based cluster scintillators for efficient dynamic X-ray imaging
Wenjing Zhao, Yanze Wang, Ruizi Li, Xiaowang Liu, Wei Huang
Abstract
Efficient scintillators are crucial for advancing X-ray imaging, requiring superior performance, customizable color, and cost-effectiveness. Despite progress in scintillator development, traditional synthesis methods suffer from extended reaction times, high processing temperatures, and labor-intensive post-treatment procedures. Herein, we introduce a rapid flash synthesis approach for high-performance Cu(I)-based cluster scintillators, achieved ordered assembly through solvent evaporation in 2 min. This innovative method not only accelerates synthesis but also yields scintillators with desirable features, such as wide-range luminescence tuning, a high photoluminescence quantum yield, and robust resistance to X-ray irradiation. The resulting flexible films from Cu(I)-based cluster scintillators demonstrate a low detection limit of 44 nGy s −1 and stable X-ray imaging capabilities with a resolution of 24.8 lp/mm. Additionally, the short luminescence lifetime allows the use of the flexible scintillation film for dynamic real-time imaging at a speed of 30 frames per second. The outcomes of this flash synthesis offer a strategic blueprint for the practical exploration of high-performance, large-scale, and swift synthesis of Cu(I)-based hybrid materials. This innovative technique holds the promise of significantly enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of advanced scintillators, making them more widely applicable in the field of X-ray imaging.