Hybrid Cu(I)-based glassy cluster gel scintillator film by in situ UV photopolymerization

Abstract

Highly transparent and large-area scintillator film is highly desirable for next-generation X-ray imaging and detection. Herein, we develop a rapid and in situ synthesis strategy to fabricate polymer scintillator film composed of (C₁₄H₁₅P)₄Cu₄I₄ glassy cluster gel (M1-GCG). The large-area M1-GCG film of 20 × 12 cm was obtained by in situ UV photopolymerization within 30 s, showing ∼90% transmittance in the broad spectral region of 400–1,000 nm, in which Cu(I) iodide clusters coordinated by phosphine ligands are generated as a glassy form in the polymer network structure and uniformly distributed under supramolecular interactions, as the polymer monomer is polymerized and cross-linked under ultraviolet light. We develop a brand-new chemical synthesis route toward polymer-based composite scintillator film, and the M1-GCG film with high transparency and scintillation properties, as well as high-resolution X-ray imaging ability, shows extraordinary potential for large-area medical imaging and industrial non-destructive detection.