Anthracene Single-Crystal Scintillators for Computer Tomography Scanning

Abstract

X-ray imaging and computed tomography (CT) technology, as the important non-destructive measurements, can observe internal structures without destroying the detected sample, which are always used in biological diagnosis to detect tumors, pathologies, and bone damages. It is always a challenge to find materials with a low detection limit, a short exposure time, and high resolution to reduce X-ray damage and acquire high-contrast images. Here, we described a low-cost and high-efficient method to prepare centimeter-sized anthracene crystals, which exhibited intense X-ray radioluminescence with a detection limit of ∼0.108 μGy s–1, which is only one-fifth of the dose typically used for X-ray diagnostics. Additionally, the low absorption reduced the damage in radiation and ensured superior cycle performance. X-ray detectors based on anthracene crystals also exhibited an extremely high resolution of 40 lp mm–1. The CT scanning and reconstruction of a foam sample were then achieved, and the detailed internal structure could be clearly observed. These indicated that organic crystals are expecting to be leading candidate low-cost materials for low-dose and highly sensitive X-ray detection and CT scanning.

Intelligent micro/nanorobots based on biotemplates

“…Efficient imaging agents can provide precise localization, effective early diagnosis and treatment monitoring for precise treatment, and provide considerable guidance for intelligent therapy, especially cancer treatment. 144 Currently, several biomedical imaging techniques, such as fluorescence imaging (FLI), 145 photothermal imaging (PTI), 146 photoacoustic imaging (PAI), 147 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 148 computer tomography (CT), 149 and positron emission tomography (PET), 150 have been developed, that have improved the spatial resolution of cancer imaging. With the development of nanotechnology, biotemplates with unique properties have recently become an exciting prospect for accurate cancer imaging.…”

Bulk Organic Doped p-Terphenyl Crystals for X-ray Scintillators with Low Detection Limit, Nanoseconds Decay Time, and Tunable Fluorescence

“…Then electrons and holes, upon migrating and recombining, emit visible luminescence . Consequently, scintillators, including inorganic scintillators, − metal–organic scintillators, − and organic scintillators, , are potentially applied in fields like high-energy radiation detection and imaging. , Organic crystal materials, such as 9,10-diphenylanthracene (9,10-DPA), carbazole, and anthracene, show excellent scintillation properties (fast response and low detection limit) in the X-ray scintillators. − Compared to recently reported perovskites, , organic crystals exhibit weaker X-ray absorption capabilities due to the absence of high atomic number elements, but they still are favorable due to their stabilities. However, the quest for organic scintillator materials with tunable photophysical properties (decay lifetimes and emission wavelengths) remains challenging.…”