Nature Communications

A transparent hybrid metal halide glassy scintillation screen for high-resolution fast neutron radiography

2025-07-05

Fast neutron radiography offers exceptional penetration for high-density and bulky objects, yet its resolution is hindered by light scattering in conventional scintillators and screen fabrication techniques. To address this, here, we develop a transparent glassy Mn-based hybrid metal halide scintillation screen, (BTPP) 1.8 (HTPP) 0.2 MnBr 4 (BTPP + = butyltriphenylphosphonium, HTPP + = heptyltriphenylphosphonium), leveraging temperature-dependent ordered-disordered transitions. The large-area screen boasts >70% visible light transmittance (500–800 nm), a high photoluminescence quantum yield (~85.54%), and threefold higher light output than commercial ZnS (Ag): PP screens. With a spatial resolution of 5 lp mm −1 , it surpasses existing scintillators. This hybrid material enables imaging of heavy objects with clear hierarchical details, providing accurate data for non-destructive detection while offering an alternative approach to scintillator design, advancing the potential of fast neutron radiography.

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DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61503-9