A Superior Scintillator Material for High Resolution X-Ray Detectors

70837 Materials that exhibit a light output comparable or greater than bismuth germanate, have fast decay times, exhibit high efficiencies and can be manufactured inexpensively and in large pieces are extremely desirable for use in high-resolution X-ray detectors, needed for nuclear physics research. However, presently-used materials have several drawbacks: low sensitivity to X-rays, luminescence decays times that are too long, susceptibility to radiation damage, and poor spatial resolution. This project will develop a cost effective manufacturing process for the production of a superior scintillator that can be used as a substitute for the present bismuth germanate. Well-defined nanoclusters will be established that will overcome the above problems and ultimately be used in future generations of X-ray devices. Phase I will demonstrate that a superior quality scintillator can be obtained from a wide band gap semiconductor. Nanopowders of the semiconductor will be synthesized and its structure and optical properties will be characterized and optimized to establish maximum emission intensities. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Scintillator materials are commonly used as components of radiation detectors in X-ray detection systems such as counters, image intensifiers and computerized tomography (CT) scanners. Improved scintillators should find application in non-destructive testing, astronomy, medical imaging, molecular crystallography, and basic research.