Citation: Hao-Nan Qin, Hao Xie, Jia-Wang Yuan, Ren-Wu Huang, Zhao-Yang Wang, Shuang-Quan Zang. Crystallization-induced emission enhancement of copper iodide cluster for efficient X-ray scintillation and dynamic imaging[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(9): 111529. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111529 shu

Crystallization-induced emission enhancement of copper iodide cluster for efficient X-ray scintillation and dynamic imaging

Henan Key Laboratory of Crystalline Molecular Functional Materials, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Theranostical Cluster Materials, Green Catalysis Center and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China

renwuhuang@zzu.edu.cn

wangzy@zzu.edu.cn

Received Date: 29 March 2025
Revised Date: 26 June 2025
Accepted Date: 2 July 2025
Available Online: 3 July 2025

Figures(4)

Zero-dimensional (0D) scintillation materials have demonstrated great potential in X-ray detection and imaging due to their advantages in fabricating flexible screens. Compared with the current lead-halide perovskite-based nanocrystals and quantum dots, copper iodide clusters have gradually attracted attention due to their better air stability, eco-friendliness, and processability performance. Here, we demonstrate large-scale synthesis of an eco-friendly 0D microcrystalline Cu₄I₆(DABCO–CH₃)₂ (Cu₄I₆, DABCO–CH₃ = 1-methyl-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) scintillator exhibiting crystallization-induced emission enhancement (CIEE). High X-ray absorption efficiency and excellent optical properties endow Cu₄I₆ microcrystals with high-quality scintillation performance, which displays an ultralow X-ray detection limit of 38.4 nGy/s and a light yield of ~21,700 photons/MeV. Specifically, a microcrystal-based flexible scintillation screen was fabricated for high-resolution static and dynamic X-ray imaging applications, achieving a spatial resolution of 12.3 LP/mm. This study introduces a practical design concept for CIEE-based scintillators and seeks to further investigate their potential applications in X-ray imaging.
- Copper iodide cluster,
- Crystallization-induced emission,
- Radioluminescence,
- Scintillation,
- X-ray scintillation imaging
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