Researchers at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) have developed nanoscale quantum shells that work as advanced electron and X-ray scintillators. This innovation can lead to exciting developments in particle physics, medical imaging, and X-ray-based defense technologies.
A scintillator is a material that emits flashes of light when it is hit by high-energy particles such as X-rays or gamma rays. This light is then detected and used to measure or image the energy and presence of these particles.
“An everyday application for scintillator technology can be found in a dentist’s office, where X-ray beams are shone through a patient’s mouth and onto a film of a reactive material that imprints an image of the teeth for the dentist to check for potential defects,” the researchers said .
Scintillators hold great importance in medical imaging and various other applications that utilize high-energy particles. However, a big limitation with conventional scintillators is that scientists often have to choose between two options: fast imaging or the best performance.
According to the researchers, the newly developed quantum shell scintillators can overcome this problem.
Quantum shells are faster and better
When scientists use a conventional scintillator that provides quick results (like for real-time imaging), they often have to compromise on accuracy or clarity. Similarly, when they select a scintillator that offers the best performance, the process tends to be slow and time-consuming.
“Traditional scintillator technologies face challenges in simultaneously achieving optimal performance and high-speed operation. We introduce colloidal quantum shell heterostructures as X-ray and electron scintillators, combining efficiency, speed, and durability,” the researchers said .
What makes quantum shell scintillators fast and accurate is that when X-rays hit them, they emit light (glow) for only a few nanoseconds. In contrast, conventional scintillators keep glowing for hundreds of nanoseconds.
A shorter glow time enables quicker, and more detailed imaging. “The quantum shell scintillator achieves a single-digit nanosecond lifetime while preserving efficiency levels equal to traditional scintillators,” Benjamin Diroll, one of the researchers, said.
This is especially useful when capturing fast events or in situations where timing is critical. If the glow lasts too long, it can blur the image or slow down the detection process, making it harder to observe fast changes.
Additionally, traditional scintillators are millimeters thick, causing light to release from multiple areas and resulting in blurred images. In contrast, quantum shell scintillators are made as thin films on substrates.
“We realized that we could make quantum shell scintillators much thinner, just a couple of micrometers while achieving both strong X-ray absorption and high spatial resolution imaging,” Burak Guzelturk, lead researcher and a physicist at ANL, said.
Scintillators with endless potential
The application of quantum shells isn’t limited to dental X-rays and other types of medical diagnostics.
According to researchers, it can be used alongside powerful X-ray sources like the Advanced Photon Source (APS) for ultrafast detection of high-energy particles and producing high-quality images.
APS is a hi-tech facility at the ANL that generates intense X-ray beams to examine the structure and properties of a wide range of materials, including biological samples, machines, metals, and other substances.
For instance, if you want to understand how an engine works while it’s operational with fuel inside, you could first use the APS to shoot X-rays that pass through the engine.
Quantum shell scintillators would then detect the X-rays and help create high-resolution images, allowing you to see the engine’s internal structure and how it functions in real-time.
“By leveraging their (quantum shell scintillators’) unique optical and electronic properties, researchers can open new frontiers in fields ranging from particle physics to medical diagnostics,” the researchers note.
The study is published in the journal Nature Communications .
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