Visualization of X-rays with an Ultralow Detection Limit via Zero-Dimensional Perovskite Scintillators

X-rays play an extremely significant role in medical diagnosis, safety testing, scientific research, and other practical applications. However, as the main sources of radioactive pollution, the hazard of X-rays to human health and the environment has been a major concern. Herein, the explored perovskite scintillator of Cs₂Zr₁PbCl₆ in this work exhibits an ultrahigh radioluminescence intensity owing to the enhanced X-ray absorption for the introduction of Pb²⁺ ions. The Cs₂Zr₁PbCl₆ crystals are demonstrated as efficient scintillators with a self-trapped exciton emission and extremely high steady-state light yield (∼101,944 photons meV^-1). This fascinating scintillator provides a convenient visual tool for X-ray detection even for an indoor lighting environment, reaching a low detection limit of ∼14.2 nGy·s^-1, which is about 1/387 of the typical medical imaging dose (5.5 μGy·s^-1). Moreover, X-ray imaging with a high resolution of 16.6 lp·mm^-1 is achieved with the as-explored Cs₂Zr₁PbCl₆ scintillator film. Herein, the Cs₂Zr₁PbCl₆ scintillator provides a feasible strategy for X-ray monitoring in the field of biomedicine, high-energy physics, national security, and other applications.