In a groundbreaking study, researchers have developed an organic scintillator that significantly enhances radio-luminescence, overcoming the long-standing limitations of organic scintillators. By introducing a highly stable charge-separated (CS) state trap in the design, the team has achieved remarkable improvements in scintillation intensity, with the ability to capture and convert high-energy carriers efficiently.
The innovation, based on a donor-acceptor (D-A) doping strategy, utilizes the unique thermally activated delayed phosphorescence (TADP) mechanism induced by the CS state trap. This results in a dramatic improvement in radiation luminescence intensity, with the relative light yield (LY) reaching an impressive 65,535 photons MeV-1. This performance surpasses that of most traditional commercial inorganic scintillators, marking a significant milestone in the development of organic scintillator technology.
Notably, the organic scintillator developed in this study exhibits a super-long afterglow emission, visible to the naked eye for up to 7 hours after the cessation of X-ray excitation. This is the first time such a phenomenon has been observed in organic small molecules under X-ray excitation, offering a major leap in scintillator performance.
The new technology also presents practical applications in non-destructive testing. A flexible scintillation film made from this organic scintillator has been used in X-ray afterglow imaging technology to effectively detect internal structural defects in bottles and identify fine scratches on the inner metal layer of metal-plastic composite pipes. This advancement opens up new possibilities for cultural relics identification and industrial radiographic testing, offering a more efficient and non-destructive method for examining materials and artifacts.
The researchers' innovative work highlights the immense potential of organic scintillators to compete with inorganic counterparts, offering new avenues for radiographic testing and imaging in a variety of fields.
Reference: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1078091
