Combinatorial Screening of Advanced Scintillators for High Resolution X-Ray Detectors

72587S03-I There is a great need for scintillators that are efficient, fast, heavy, and cheap, for X-ray and intermediate photon detections in nuclear physics. Unfortunately, the conventional methods used to search for new and efficient scintillator materials are very slow and inefficient. This project will develop and apply a highly efficient combinatorial process to significantly speed up the discovery process for advanced scintillators. The combinatorial synthesis technique can prepare and study over 1,000 samples per week, and promising scintillator materials can be quickly fished out from the large pool of candidates. Phase I will develop and demonstrate that scintillators can be prepared and studied by the combinatorial synthesis and high-throughput screening technique. Approximately 2,000 different scintillator compositions of various oxides doped with cerium will be deposited as potential efficient scintillators. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The development of advanced scintillator materials with faster response times, higher density, greater radiation hardness, and higher energy efficiencies should have significant benefits in physics and chemistry research, medical diagnosis, well-logging, industrial non-destructive evaluation (NDE), and safety inspections (such as at airports), etc.