In situ preparation of high-performance flexible copper halide scintillation films for X-ray imaging

Abstract

Copper-based organic–inorganic hybrid metal halides (OIMHs) have garnered extensive attention in X-ray imaging because of their flexible structural adaptability, efficient light emission, and strong X-ray absorption. Despite the growth of highly efficient luminescent crystals, the fabrication process of X-ray imaging films remains a critical step that can significantly affect the X-ray image resolution. The fabrication process of conventional X-ray imaging films involves grinding and mixing with a transparent, flexible polymer material to uniformly incorporate OIMH crystals into the polymer matrix. However, during the mixing process, the OIMH crystals tend to aggregate into large particles, which results in light reflection during luminescence and limits the X-ray image resolution. In this study, we address the abovementioned issue and demonstrate the fabrication of 0D copper halide (C₁₉H₁₈P)₂CuI₃@polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) scintillation films using an in situ fabrication method. The in situ grown (C₁₉H₁₈P)₂CuI₃@PMMA scintillator film exhibits cyan emission with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 82%, a high light yield of 26 800 photons MeV⁻¹, and excellent X-ray imaging with a high resolution of 11 lp mm⁻¹. Therefore, this in situ fabrication technique enables the production of large-area, low-cost X-ray imaging films with high light yield and high X-ray image resolution.