Kinetics-Controlled Crystallization Unlocking Eu²⁺-Doped Barium Silicate Glass Ceramic for Efficient X-Ray...

Developing efficient scintillators is crucial for advancing radiation detection. Glass ceramics (GCs) offer promise by combining processability with enhanced luminescence, but crystallizing phases with optimal scintillation properties remain challenging. Herein, a kinetics-controlled in situ crystallization strategy is presented to selectively precipitate high-performance Ba₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ crystals within a barium silicate glass. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal crystal-like topological configurations in the glass that facilitate Ba₂SiO₄ nucleation. Remarkably, the resulting GC exhibits outstanding X-ray scintillation: a high light yield of 8053 photons MeV^-1 (comparable to commercial Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂), an ultra-low detectable X-ray dose rate of 115.6 nGy s^-1, and enables high-spatial-resolution imaging (7 lp mm^-1). This performance stems from the efficient green emission (PLQY = 61.89%) of Eu²⁺within the confined crystalline environment and the material's excellent radiation attenuation. This work demonstrates how precise crystallization control unlocks high-performance GC scintillators for demanding radiation detection applications.