Persistent scintillators for X-ray repetitive imaging with stable energy traps

• Published in: Journal of rare earths Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. 1161 - 1168
• Main Authors: Wang, Yuan, Zhang, Peng, Tian, Xu, Liu, Daiyuan, Zhang, Jian, Liu, Zhichao, Yang, Xiuxia, Yu, Jie, Shao, Jianxiong, Xu, Xuhui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2025
• Subjects: Persistent luminescence; Rare earths; Repetitive imaging; Stable traps; X-ray time-delayed scintillator; X-ray time-delayed scintillator; Rare earths; Stable traps; Repetitive imaging; Persistent luminescence
• ISSN: 1002-0721
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2025.01.002

Scintillator is a key material for the development of X-ray detectors, which has a promising application in medical imaging, security inspection and industrial non-injury detection. The majority of scintillators currently used in imaging are real-time imaging scintillators, which can cause ionization radiation damage to biological subjects or detection equipment during the imaging process and require complex, highly sensitive detection systems. Therefore, exploring stable, environmentally friendly scintillator materials that can achieve delayed imaging is of significance in the field of imaging. Herein, we developed an X-ray time-lapse imaging scintillator, Sr2Al6O11:Dy3+ phosphor, which generates stable traps by X-ray irradiation, thus endowing it with excellent persistent luminescence and information storage properties (>42 d). Moreover, traps constructed by X-ray can be repeatedly refilled (>40 times) under UV light and carriers are released in the form of mechanical or thermal excitation when refilling is complete. By constructing the traps in the phosphor during X-ray excitation and using it for repetitive imaging, the detection limit is 74.78 nGy/s, and the spatial imaging resolution is as high as 16 lp/mm. This discovery provides a new idea for the development of time-delayed X-ray scintillator. Sr2Al6O11:Dy3+ time-delayed X-ray scintillator possesses excellent persistent luminescence and information storage properties under the irradiation of X-ray. At the same time, the X-ray constructs a permanent energy trap for the scintillator, allowing it to be repeatedly filled under UV light, ensuring stable and long-lasting information storage. The spatial imaging resolution of the scintillator is as high as up to 16 lp/mm, and the information storage of a single write exceeds 42 d. [Display omitted]