Highly Effective Hybrid Copper(I) Iodide Cluster Emitter with Negative Thermal Quenched Phosphorescence for X‐Ray Imaging

Abstract

The low efficiency triplet emission of hybrid copper(I) iodide clusters is a critical obstacle to their further practical optoelectronic application. Herein, we present an efficient hybrid copper(I) iodide cluster emitter (DBA)4Cu4I4, where the cooperation of excited state structure reorganization and the metallophilicity interaction enables ultra‐bright triplet yellow‐orange emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield over 94.9 %, and the phonon‐assisted de‐trapping process of exciton induces the negative thermal quenching effect at 80–300 K. We also investigate the potential of this emitter for X‐ray imaging. The (DBA)4Cu4I4 wafer demonstrates a light yield higher than 104 photons MeV−1 and a high spatial resolution of ≈5.0 lp mm−1, showing great potential in practical X‐ray imaging applications. Our new copper(I) iodide cluster emitter can serve as a model for investigating the thermodynamic mechanism of photoluminescence in hybrid copper(I) halide phosphorescence materials.

Delayed luminescence guided enhanced circularly polarized emission in atomically precise copper nanoclusters

“…7 Among the different metal nanoclusters investigated, copper clusters are of special interest, not only due to the abundance of raw materials, ease of synthesis and appealing physico-chemical properties, but also due to their potential application in the field of catalysis, electronics and biosensing. [8][9][10][11][12][13] Unlike nanoclusters based on the noble metals such as platinum, 14 gold, [15][16] and silver, 17 the synthesis and isolation of copper nanoclusters remains a challenge due to the unstable nature of copper ions towards air oxidation. However, use of surface capping ligands possessing desired functionalities can bind to the metal and act as the protecting layer resulting in robust clusters.…”

A copper-iodide cluster microcube-based X-ray scintillator

“…Cu(I) clusters exhibit good intrinsic stability due to their coordination bonds 7 , but external factors such as moisture, heat, and radiation can introduce traps and defects. Notably, Cu(I) clusters are known to be easily oxidized to Cu 0 and I 0 vacancies in the atmosphere, or form Cu and I interstitials 8 .…”