High-performance X-ray imaging enabled by in situ recrystallized antimony(III)-based halide glass-ceramics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Solid-State Physics
• Radiological Imaging

Background:

• Scintillation screens are crucial for converting X-rays into detectable light.
• Developing materials with high light yield and spatial resolution is key for improved X-ray imaging.
• Antimony(III) halides offer unique optoelectronic properties for scintillation applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a novel glass-ceramic scintillation screen using an antimony(III) halide.
• To evaluate the scintillation properties, specifically light yield and spatial resolution, of the fabricated screen.
• To assess the potential of this new material for X-ray imaging applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a glass-ceramic scintillation screen via *in situ* recrystallization.
• Characterization of the material's structure and composition.
• Measurement of light yield (photons MeV⁻¹) and spatial resolution (lp mm⁻¹).

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of a novel glass-ceramic scintillation screen based on (DCI)₃SbCl₆·CH₃CN (DCI = 1,3-dicyclohexyl imidazolium).
• Achieved a high light yield of 16,159 photons MeV⁻¹.
• Demonstrated excellent spatial resolution of 18 lp mm⁻¹.

Conclusions:

• The novel antimony(III) halide glass-ceramic exhibits promising scintillation properties.
• The material's high light yield and spatial resolution make it a strong candidate for advanced X-ray imaging.
• Further research into optimizing fabrication and performance is warranted.