Visualization of X-rays with an Ultralow Detection Limit via ZeroDimensional Perovskite Scintillators

X-rays play an extremely significant role in medical diagnosis, safety testing, scientific research, and other practical applications. However, as the main sources of radioactive pollution, the hazard of X-rays to human health and the environment has been a major concern. Herein, the explored perovskite scintillator of Cs(2)Zr(1-x)PbxCl(6) in this work exhibits an ultrahigh radioluminescence intensity owing to the enhanced X-ray absorption for the introduction of Pb2+ ions. The Cs(2)Zr(1-x)PbxCl(6) crystals are demonstrated as efficient scintillators with a self-trapped exciton emission and extremely high steady-state light yield (similar to 101,944 photons meV(-1)). This fascinating scintillator provides a convenient visual tool for X-ray detection even for an indoor lighting environment, reaching a low detection limit of similar to 14.2 nGy center dot s(-1), which is about 1/387 of the typical medical imaging dose (5.5 mu Gy center dot s(-1)). Moreover, X-ray imaging with a high resolution of 16.6 lp center dot mm(-1) is achieved with the as-explored Cs2Zr1-xPbxCl6 scintillator film. Herein, the Cs2Zr1-xPbxCl(6) scintillator provides a feasible strategy for X-ray monitoring in the field of biomedicine, high-energy physics, national security, and other applications.

Automated summary

The explored Cs(2)Zr(1-x)PbxCl(6) perovskite scintillator in this study shows outstanding performance in X-ray detection, with high radioluminescence intensity and steady-state light output. It can achieve a low detection limit even in an indoor lighting environment and also enables high-resolution X-ray imaging.