In-situ Crystallization of Ag Clusters in Polymer Matrices for X-ray Imaging

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Solid-State Physics

Background:

• Developing advanced materials for radiation detection is crucial for medical imaging and safety.
• Existing scintillation materials often lack flexibility and stability.
• Silver clusters show promise but require stabilization for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create flexible scintillation films with enhanced radioluminescence performance.
• To stabilize silver clusters (Ag-R-4PTT) within a polymer matrix using in-situ crystallization.
• To evaluate the films for X-ray detection and high-resolution imaging.

Main Methods:

• In-situ crystallization of Ag-R-4PTT clusters within poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/thermoplastic polyurethane matrices.
• Characterization of photoluminescence quantum yield, thermally activated delayed fluorescence, and radioluminescence.
• Assessment of mechanical flexibility, optical transmittance, water resistance, and X-ray detection limits.
• Evaluation of spatial resolution for X-ray imaging.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 93.1% for Ag-R-4PTT clusters.
• Demonstrated excellent radioluminescence performance with a light yield of 33,400 photons MeV⁻¹.
• Obtained an X-ray detection limit as low as 231 nGyair s⁻¹.
• Films exhibited high mechanical flexibility, optical transmittance, water resistance, and a spatial resolution of 21 lp mm⁻¹.

Conclusions:

• The developed flexible scintillation films based on stabilized Ag-R-4PTT clusters offer a promising platform for radiation detection.
• In-situ crystallization and coordination engineering provide a general strategy for stabilizing silver clusters.
• These materials are suitable for high-resolution X-ray imaging and flexible radiation sensing applications.