Large-scale self-assembled nanophotonic scintillators for X-ray imaging
Louis Martin-Monier (),
Simo Pajovic (),
Muluneh G. Abebe (),
Joshua Chen,
Sachin Vaidya,
Seokhwan Min,
Seou Choi,
Steven E. Kooi,
Bjorn Maes,
Juejun Hu,
Marin Soljačić and
Charles Roques-Carmes ()
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Louis Martin-Monier: MIT
Simo Pajovic: MIT
Muluneh G. Abebe: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Joshua Chen: MIT
Sachin Vaidya: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Seokhwan Min: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Seou Choi: MIT
Steven E. Kooi: MIT
Bjorn Maes: University of Mons
Juejun Hu: MIT
Marin Soljačić: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Charles Roques-Carmes: MIT
Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8
Abstract:
Abstract Scintillators convert X-ray energy into visible light and are critical for imaging technologies. Their widespread use relies on scalable, high-quality manufacturing methods. Nanophotonic scintillators, featuring wavelength-scale nanostructures, can offer improved emission properties such as higher light yield, shorter decay times, and enhanced directionality. However, achieving scalable fabrication of these structures remains challenging. Here, we present a scalable fabrication method for large-area nanophotonic scintillators based on the self-assembly of chalcogenide glass photonic crystals. This technique enables the production of nanophotonic scintillators over wafer-scale areas, achieving a six-fold enhancement in light yield compared to unpatterned scintillators. By studying surface nanofabrication disorder, we show its impact on imaging performance and provide a route towards scintillation enhancements without compromising resolution. We demonstrate the practical applicability of our nanophotonic scintillators through X-ray imaging of biological and inorganic specimens. Our results could enable the industrial implementation of a new generation of nanophotonic-enhanced scintillators.
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60953-5
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60953-5
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