Low-dose real-time X-ray imaging with nontoxic double perovskite scintillators

X-ray imaging, crucial in various fields, has seen advancements with lead halide perovskite scintillators. However, limitations like self-absorption, low light yield, and toxicity hinder their applications. This study introduces nontoxic double-perovskite scintillators (Cs₂Ag₀.₆Na₀.₄In₁₋ₓBiₓCl₆), manipulating Bi³⁺ content to optimize X-ray absorption, emission efficiency, light yield, and decay. Cs₂Ag₀.₆Na₀.₄In₀.₈₅Bi₀.₁₅Cl₆ achieved a light yield of 39,000 ± 7000 photons/MeV, exceeding that of CsPbBr₃. The large Stokes shift minimized self-absorption. Static and dynamic X-ray imaging were demonstrated under extremely low doses, showcasing high stability and performance even after thermal and X-ray irradiation.

Wenjuan Zhu, Wenbo Ma, Yirong Su, Zeng Chen, Xinya Chen, Yaoguang Ma, Lizhong Bai, Wenge Xiao, Tianyu Liu, Haiming Zhu, Xiaofeng Liu, Huafeng Liu, Xu Liu, Yang (Michael) Yang