A New Polar Lead‐Free Hybrid Halide X‐Ray Scintillator

• Published in: Advanced optical materials 2024-08, Vol.12 (22), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Wang, Yu‐Yin, Song, Wei‐Ting, Yao, Xin‐Ran, Chen, Xiang‐Yu, Cheng, Ming‐Tao, Jia, Guo‐Hao, Liu, He‐Zhi, Liu, Xiao‐Tong, Yang, Hui‐Hui, Qi, Chong‐Hai, Lin, Guo‐Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aniline; Emitters; Imaging; Metal halides; nonlinear optical response; Nonlinear optics; Nonlinear response; Optical properties; Optoelectronics; Perovskites; Photoluminescence; Potassium phosphates; Scintillation counters; scintillator; Space exploration; Tetrahedra; X‐ray imaging; zinc hybrid halide
• ISSN: 2195-1071; 2195-1071
• DOI: 10.1002/adom.202400190

X‐ray imaging serves a critical role across diverse sectors, including medical diagnostics, industrial surveillance, security, and space exploration. This study delves into the unique properties of a novel polar crystal, [FMPPA]ZnBr4 (FMPPA = protonated 3‐fluoro‐4‐(4‐methyl‐1‐piperazinyl)aniline), characterized by a 0D metal halide structure. This crystal features [ZnBr4]2− tetrahedra and A‐site organic amine ion [FMPPA]2+ rings. With a high photoluminescence quantum yield (≈70%) and minimal self‐absorption, [FMPPA]ZnBr4 demonstrates exceptional scintillation performance under X‐ray excitation, producing 29300 ± 600 photons MeV−1 and achieving a low detection limit of 0.352 µGyair s−1, surpassing conventional 3D perovskite nanocrystals. Beyond superior performance, this scintillator meets the demand for efficient X‐ray imaging light emitters. Moreover, it consistently achieves ≈12.5 lp mm−1 high‐resolution X‐ray imaging. Additionally, [FMPPA]ZnBr4 exhibits a nonlinear optical response, surpassing the benchmark KH2PO4 by 1.8 times. This investigation introduces a new structure framework, paving the way for the development of integrated optoelectronic materials with both nonlinear and linear optical properties. This study introduces a new polar Zn‐based hybrid halide X‐ray scintillator, [FMPPA]ZnBr4. With a high photoluminescence quantum yield of ≈70% and minimal self‐absorption, it demonstrates high scintillation performance (29,300 ± 600 photons MeV−1) and a low detection limit of 0.352 µGyair s−1 under X‐ray excitation.