Tb3+/Ce3+-codoped LiLuF4 nanocrystal glasses for high-resolution X-ray imaging†

Glass-based scintillators, with low cost and large-scale preparation, have received extensive attention in medical and industrial X-ray imaging applications. However, the undesirable scintillation performance of scintillation glasses limits their further application, since precipitating nanocrystals with high luminescence efficiency and large density in glass remains difficult. Here, an ion-covalent fluoroaluminate–borate glass network structure is constructed to precipitate co-doped LiLuF₄ nanocrystals. Due to the nanoscale and good dispersion of precipitated crystals, LiLuF₄ nanocrystal glasses (NGs) maintain a high visible light transmission property. The scintillation performances of LiLuF₄ NGs are improved by optimal heat treatment processing and co-doping of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺. Specifically, a high light yield of 14 508 ph MeV⁻¹ and outstanding radiation resistance are reached in the optimal NGs, which is attributed to the uniformly distributed LiLuF₄:Tb,Ce nanocrystals. Moreover, large-scale NGs exhibit an outstanding X-ray imaging performance for various objects, achieving a high spatial resolution of 18.4 Lp mm⁻¹. Through a nanocrystal enhancing strategy, the present report explores novel high-performance and cost-effective glass-based scintillators and demonstrates LiLuF₄:Tb,Ce NGs as a promising candidate for next-generation X-ray imagers.