Achieving a Record Scintillation Performance by Micro-Doping a Heterovalent Magnetic Ion in Cs3Cu2I5 Single-Crystal

An ultrabright, ultrafast, and low-cost ideal scintillator has been critically absent and is sorely desired in scintillation detection, but has hitherto not been found. Here, a high-quality bulk Cs3Cu2I5:Mn single-crystal scintillator with ultrahigh light yield (approximate to 95 772 photons per MeV, Cs-137 gamma-rays), excellent energy resolution (3.79%, 662 keV), and ultrafast scintillation decay time (3 ns, 81.5%) is reported. In mechanism, it is found that micro-doping of a heterovalent magnetic ion (at the ppm level) can effectively modulate the luminescence kinetics of self-trapped excitons in the scintillator. Compared with previous reports, the introduction of trace amounts of magnetic Mn2+ (approximate to 18.6 ppm) in Cs3Cu2I5 single-crystal shortens the scintillation decay time by several hundred times, transforming the slow decay into an ultrafast decay. Simultaneously, the light yield is also increased about three times to the highest value so far. From the comprehensive performance of the micro-doped Cs3Cu2I5:Mn single-crystal, these excellent scintillation properties, physical characteristics suitable for practical applications, and low-cost advantages render this single-crystal an ideal scintillator with great potential for commercialization.

Automated summary

This study reports a high-quality bulk Cs3Cu2I5:Mn single-crystal scintillator with ultrahigh light yield, excellent energy resolution, and ultrafast scintillation decay time. The introduction of trace amounts of magnetic Mn2+ significantly improves the scintillator's performance, making it highly suitable for commercial applications.