A researcher holds the novel flexible X-ray scintillator made from organic manganese halide. Image: Biwu Ma/Florida State University.Researchers at Florida State University (FSU) have developed a new material that could be used to make flexible X-ray detectors that are less harmful to the environment and cost less than existing technologies.
Led by Biwu Ma, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at FSU, the researchers created X-ray scintillators using an environmentally friendly material. They report their work in a paper in Nature Communications.
"Developing low-cost scintillation materials that can be easily manufactured and that perform well remains a great challenge," Ma said. "This work paves the way for exploring new approaches to create these important devices."
X-ray scintillators convert the radiation of an X-ray into visible light, and are a common type of X-ray detector. When you visit the dentist or the airport, scintillators are used to take images of your teeth or scan your luggage.
Various materials have been used to make X-ray scintillators, but they can be difficult or expensive to manufacture. Certain lead-containing materials have also shown potential as X-ray scintillators, but the toxicity of lead could be a concern.
Ma's team found a different solution. They used a material known as organic manganese halide to create scintillators that don't use lead or heavy metals. This material can be used to make a powder that works very well for X-ray imaging and can be combined with a polymer to create a flexible composite that can be used as an X-ray scintillator. The flexibility broadens the potential use of the technology.
"Researchers have made scintillators with a variety of compounds, but this technology offers something that combines low cost with high performance and environmentally friendly materials," Ma said. "When you also consider the ability to make flexible scintillators, it's a promising avenue to explore."
Ma recently received a GAP Commercialization Investment Program grant from the FSU Office of the Vice President for Research to develop this technology.
This story is adapted from material from Florida State University, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier. Link to original source.