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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

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Real-time X-ray Imaging of Lung Fluid Volumes in Neonatal Mouse Lung
Published on: July 18, 2016
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Low Afterglow Composite Scintillator for Real-Time X-Ray Imaging
Xiangzhou Zhang1, Yeqi Liu2, Nianqiao Liu3
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed new rare-earth fluoride nanocrystals (NaLuF4) that significantly reduce persistent afterglow, a common issue in X-ray imaging. This breakthrough enables clearer, real-time imaging for medical and industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Radiological Physics
Background:
- Rare-earth fluoride nanocrystals are promising scintillators for X-ray imaging.
- Persistent afterglow in these materials hinders dynamic imaging due to deep trap states.
- This afterglow causes signal overlap and image artifacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop Ce3+/Tb3+ co-doped NaLuF4 nanoscintillators with suppressed afterglow.
- To overcome the limitations of persistent afterglow in scintillator applications.
- To enable real-time, high-quality X-ray imaging.
Main Methods:
- Co-doping NaLuF4 host with Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions.
- Incorporating optimized nanocrystals into a poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix.
- Fabricating transparent, high-loading composite scintillator films.
Main Results:
- Ce3+ doping successfully quenched long afterglow without reducing Tb3+ radioluminescence efficiency.
- Composite films exhibited negligible afterglow, high spatial resolution, and excellent radiation stability.
- Targeted ion doping effectively suppressed afterglow in rare-earth fluoride scintillators.
Conclusions:
- The developed nanoscintillators offer a viable solution for afterglow reduction in X-ray imaging.
- This strategy paves the way for advanced real-time X-ray imaging technologies.
- Applications include medical diagnostics and industrial inspection requiring high image quality.
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