Zero-dimensional hybrid zinc halide scintillators with efficient blue light emission for X-ray imaging.

Scintillators, an important component of optoelectronic materials, have been used extensively for medical imaging and security detection. Currently, most X-ray imaging scintillators rely on inorganic scintillators that use rare earths. Scintillator materials with mild growth conditions, high light yield, environmental friendliness, and low cost are still worth exploring. Here, we prepared novel zero-dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic hybrid zinc halides [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 (C 9 H 14 N+ = N-butylpyridinium bromide cation) based on pyridine quaternary ammonium salt C 9 H 14 NBr and ZnBr 2. Under UV excitation, the [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 single crystal shows efficient blue light emission with the center at 426 nm, a large Stokes shift of 129 nm, and a high quantum yield of 49.95 %. In addition, the highly efficient blue emission of [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 crystals was also able to be excited by X-rays. The [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 crystal exhibited a relatively low detection limit of 4.995 μGy air s-1. X-ray imaging results based on [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 scintillation screens demonstrate high-performance X-ray imaging capabilities. According to these results, [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 crystals are promising X-ray scintillators due to their non-toxicity, excellent luminescence, and good detection performance. [Display omitted] • Novel zero-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid zinc halide [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 crystals were synthesized. • Under UV excitation, the [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 crystals exhibit bright blue light emission. • The electronic properties including energy band structure and density of states were systematically investigated. • Flexible [C 9 H 14 N] 2 ZnBr 4 films prepared as X-ray imaging scintillators exhibit a low detection limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]