Pixelated Scintillator Arrays with Si-SiO₂ Waveguiding Architecture for High-Resolution x-ray Imaging

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Medical Imaging
• Optics

Background:

• Traditional scintillators limit x-ray imaging resolution and low-dose detection due to light scattering.
• Pixelated designs are needed to overcome these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a pixelated scintillation screen with improved spatial resolution and sensitivity.
• To address the limitations of conventional thick polycrystalline scintillators.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Si-SiO2 array (SOA) template.
• Infiltration and recrystallization of Cs5Cu3Cl6I2 within the SOA channels.
• Utilizing total internal reflection (TIR) for vertical photon guidance.

Main Results:

• Achieved a spatial resolution of 20.10 lp·mm⁻¹.
• Reached a minimum detectable dose of 35 nGy·s⁻¹.
• Demonstrated suppressed lateral scattering and enhanced vertical photon transport.

Conclusions:

• The SOA-based pixelated scintillator offers superior imaging performance compared to film-based designs.
• This technology enables next-generation x-ray imaging with high resolution and low-dose sensitivity.
• The scalable fabrication process allows for customizable scintillator arrays.