Enhancing X-ray Sensitivity via the Antenna Effect in Quantum Shells with Multiexciton Emission.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Radiological Physics

Background:

• Quantum shells (QSs) exhibit efficient multiexciton emission, promising for X-ray scintillation.
• Low-atomic-number (low-Z) elements in QSs limit X-ray absorption and sensitivity.
• Improving X-ray absorption is crucial for enhancing QS-based X-ray imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To overcome the low X-ray sensitivity of low-Z QSs.
• To develop a strategy for efficient X-ray harvesting and energy transfer to QSs.
• To enhance radioluminescence (RL) and X-ray imaging performance of QSs.

Main Methods:

• Introduced a high-atomic-number (high-Z) antenna-sensitization strategy.
• Coupled QSs with heavy-element molecular absorbers as X-ray harvesting centers.
• Utilized efficient interfacial energy transfer from absorbers to QSs.

Main Results:

• Achieved over an order-of-magnitude increase in multiexciton-driven QS radioluminescence (RL).
• Demonstrated enhanced X-ray absorption and efficient interfacial energy transfer.
• Attained a high X-ray imaging resolution of 25.2 lp mm⁻¹, surpassing many existing scintillators.

Conclusions:

• High-Z antenna sensitization is an effective strategy for enhancing QS X-ray imaging performance.
• This approach significantly improves X-ray absorption and energy transfer efficiency.
• The developed QS materials show great promise for high-performance X-ray imaging applications.