Aqueous-Based Inorganic Colloidal Halide Perovskites Customizing Liquid Scintillators

Compared to solid scintillators and organic liquid scintillators, aqueous-based liquid scintillators (AbLS) have more superiority in highly flexible scalability, yet are now limited by their low light yield (approximate to 100 photons MeV-1). Here, aqueous-based inorganic colloidal halide perovskites with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of three primary color luminescence up to 88.1% (red), 96% (green), and 81.8% (blue) are respectively synthesized, and a new generation of colloidal perovskite-mediated AbLS (PAbLS) with light yield increased in comparison with the commercial scintillator AbLS is fabricated. This paper exhibits that the excellent PLQY and colloidal dispersion of halide perovskites benefit from poly(ethylene glycol) modification and this modification ensures the vacancy inhibition and formation of defect-free surfaces in an aqueous solution. Moreover, their high luminescent emission can be maintained for 100 days at low temperatures, and such modification also promises the heat-to-cold customization of operating temperature even in ice below 0 degrees C. Finally, depending on the light yield of around 3058 and 8037 photons MeV-1 at room temperature and low temperature, PAbLS with shape/size scalability exhibit their robust radiation hardness (dose rate as high as 23 mGy s(-1)) and conceptual application potential in high-energy ray radiation detection from every angle of 360 degrees.

Automated summary

This study develops aqueous-based inorganic colloidal halide perovskites with high photoluminescence quantum yield and fabricates a new generation of colloidal perovskite-mediated AbLS. The results demonstrate that halide perovskites have excellent PLQY and colloidal dispersion, making them suitable for use in aqueous solutions. Additionally, the materials exhibit stable luminescent emission at low temperatures and can be customized for operation even in ice below 0 degrees C. Finally, the PAbLS show robust radiation hardness and potential application in high-energy ray radiation detection from every angle of 360 degrees.