A review and new data are presented on the absolute photon yield emitted by "classical" (NaI(Tl/sup +/), CsI(Tl/sup +/), CsI(Na/sup +/), CaF/sub 2/(Eu/sup 2+/), Bi/sub 4/Ge/sub 3/O/sub 12/, and CdWO/sub 4/) and "modern" (BaF/sub 2/, Gd/sub 2/SiO/sub 5/(Ce/sup 3+/), YAlO/sub 3/(Ce/sup 3+/), Lu/sub 2/SiO/sub 5/(Ce/sup 3+/), Lu/sub 3/Al/sub 5/O/sub 12/(Sc/sup 3+/), and K/sub 2/LaCl/sub 5/(Ce/sup 3+/)) scintillation crystals after absorption of X-rays and /spl gamma/-rays of energies ranging from 5 keV to 1 MeV. Factors influencing the energy resolution with which high energy photons can be detected with scintillator-photomultiplier combinations are reviewed. Attention is especially focused on the effects of nonproportionality in the scintillation response on the energy resolution.

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Non-proportionality in the scintillation response and the energy resolution obtainable with scintillation crystals

A review is presented of recent inorganic scintillator R&D. Attention is focused on Ce doped gamma-ray and thermal-neutron scintillators for counting applications.

Inorganic-scintillator development

Scintillators are widely utilized for radiation detections in many fields, such as nondestructive inspection, medical imaging, and space exploration. Lead halide perovskite scintillators have recently received extensive research attention owing to their tunable emission wavelength, low detection limit, and ease of fabrication. However, the low light yields toward X-ray irradiation and the lead toxicity of these perovskites severely restricts their practical application. A novel lead-free halide is presented, namely Rb2 CuBr3 , as a scintillator with exceptionally high light yield. Rb2 CuBr3 exhibits a 1D crystal structure and enjoys strong carrier confinement and near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (98.6%) in violet emission. The high photoluminescence quantum yield combined with negligible self-absorption from self-trapped exciton emission and strong X-ray absorption capability enables a record high light yield of ≈91056 photons per MeV among perovskite and relative scintillators. Overall, Rb2 CuBr3 provides nontoxicity, high radioluminescence intensity, and good stability, thus laying good foundations for potential application in low-dose radiography.

Lead‐Free Halide Rb2CuBr3 as Sensitive X‐Ray Scintillator

We are developing large-area, thick, structured CsI(Tl) imaging sensors for a wide variety of X-ray imaging applications. Recently we have fabricated structured CsI(Tl) scintillators ranging from 30 /spl mu/m (16 mg/cm/sup 2/) to 2000 /spl mu/m (900 mg/cm/sup 2/) in thickness and up to 15/spl times/15 cm/sup 2/ in area. Even 2000-/spl mu/m-thick film showed well-controlled columnar growth throughout the film. Material characterization confirmed that the film is crystalline in nature and that the stoichiometry is preserved. To improve the spatial resolution of thick films, post-deposition treatments were performed. The effect of these treatments on film characteristics was quantitatively evaluated by measuring signal output, modulation transfer function [MTF(f)], noise power spectrum [NPS(f)], and detective quantum efficiency [DQE(f)]. The data show that by proper film treatments, the film DQE(f) can be improved.

Structured CsI(Tl) scintillators for X-ray imaging applications

Radioluminescent materials (scintillators) are widely applied in medical imaging, nondestructive testing, security inspection, nuclear and radiation industries, and scientific research. Recently, all-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystal (NC) scintillators have attracted great attention due to their facile solution processability and ultrasensitive X-ray detection, which allows for large area and flexible X-ray imaging. However, the light yield of these perovskite NCs is relatively low because of the strong self-absorption that reduces the light out-coupling efficiency. Here, NCs with self-trapped excitons emission are demonstrated to be sensitive, reabsorption-free scintillators. Highly luminescent and stable Cs3Cu2I5 NCs with a photoluminescence quantum yields of 73.7%, which is a new record for blue emission lead-free perovskite or perovskite-like NCs, is produced with the assistance of InI3. The PL peak of the Cs3Cu2I5 NCs locates at 445 nm that matches with the response peak of a silicon photomultiplier. Thus, Cs3Cu2I5 NCs are demonstrated as efficient scintillators with zero self-absorption and extremely high light yield (≈79 279 photons per MeV). Both Cs3Cu2I5 NC colloidal solution and film exhibit strong radioluminescence under X-ray irradiation. The potential application of Cs3Cu2I5 NCs as reabsorption-free, low cost, large area, and flexible scintillators is demonstrated by a prototype X-ray imaging with a high spatial resolution.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/advs.202000195

Efficient and Reabsorption-Free Radioluminescence in Cs 3 Cu 2 I 5 Nanocrystals with Self-Trapped Excitons

The scintillation characteristics of pure and Tl-doped CsI were investigated. The scintillation light was detected with photomultipliers and silicon photodiodes. The influence of the Tl concentration on the light yield and on the decay times was studied upon excitation with gamma -rays and alpha -particles. The origin of the different emission components is discussed. >

P. Schotanus

Papers

Scintillation characteristics of pure and Tl-doped CsI crystals