Organic Cocrystal Design to Promote Absorption and Triplet Excitons Formation for Sensitive Scintillator

Abstract

AbstractOrganic materials show good mechanical flexibility, easy processing, and large‐area manufacturing, while weak X‐ray absorption and low sensitivity for X‐ray scintillator media. As seen originally, this is a synergistic result of the lack of heavy elements in the molecule that can effectively truncate X‐rays and the massive dissipation of triplet excitons produced by molecular ionization. Herein, cocrystal with phosphorescence enhancement is found to be brilliant in addressing the shortcomings of organic scintillators. The results show that heavy atoms can be easily introduce into the donor unit of organic cocrystal to satisfy the X‐ray absorption and effectively activate the triplet excitons via promoting intersystem crossing (ISC). Moreover, the rational structural design of the acceptor molecule can achieve coupling with the donor for inhibiting the non‐radiative loss of the triplet exciton. Finally, the preferred PNPA (4,4′‐Dibromobiphenyl and N‐phenylnaphthalen‐2‐amine) cocrystals achieve record X‐ray‐induce exciton utilization and emit bright phosphorescent light. Meanwhile, the related device shows durable radiation stability, spatial resolution (>11 lp mm−1), low detection limit (<0.6 µGyair s−1), and effective dynamic imaging application. Hence, it is believed the organic cocrystal‐designed principle can provide guidance to develop advanced sensitive X‐ray scintillators in the future.