High-Entropy Glass Scintillators With Anti-Crystallization Stability for High-Resolution X-Ray Imaging

Glass scintillators have become promising for high-resolution x-ray imaging owing to the low-scattering light output, but the inherent tendency toward crystallization remains a critical challenge to maintain long-term stability. To fundamentally tackle glass metastability, a high-entropy design is utilized to disrupt the energetic preference for crystallization. A series of Mn-based organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides (ATPP_n)₂MnBr₄ (ATPP_n = alkyltriphenylphosphonium, n = 2-6) are prepared to leverage configurational entropy for the construction of five-component high-entropy glass (HEG). The elevated entropy in HEG establishes a formidable kinetic barrier against crystallization, thereby overcoming rapid degradation to ensure exceptional stability for over 150 days. The current Mn-based HEG scintillator exhibits bright luminescence and outstanding scintillation properties, including a low detection limit of 16.5 nGy s^-1 and a spatial resolution of 28.3 lp mm^-1. This superior performance further allows for high-resolution and dynamic x-ray imaging to visualize real-time detection of rotating targets. This work not only demonstrates a stable, high-performance glass scintillator but also validates a general high-entropy strategy to overcome the metastability of functional glasses.