Waterproof scintillator for efficient 3D X-ray imaging enabled by color and space reconfiguration

Abstract

Metal-halide X-ray scintillators have substantial potential in various applications, including medical diagnosis, nondestructive inspection, security checking, and space exploration. However, it has been found that the formidable humidity decomposition of conventional scintillators remains a great obstacle in advancing next-generation X-ray imaging technology. Herein, we report a nontoxic copper-halide scintillator featuring an organic framework structure, where hydrophobic long-chain molecules impart exceptional waterproof properties to the scintillator even after being soaked in water for 500 days. Moreover, a flexible film achieved from the stable scintillator demonstrates remarkable radiation robustness along with a high spatial resolution of 16.6 lp mm⁻¹ and a low limit of detection of 33.75 nGy_air s⁻¹. Finally, leveraging color and spatial reconfiguration technologies enables impressive 3D X-ray imaging, revealing clear and distinct internal details of objects. This work highlights significant advantages of our waterproof scintillator for efficient 3D X-ray imaging, paving the way for its diverse applications in challenging environments.