Ultrafast nanocomposite scintillators based on Cd-enhanced CsPbCl3 nanocrystals in polymer matrix

TL;DR

This study investigates CsPbCl3 nanocrystals embedded in polymers, enhanced with CdCl2, demonstrating ultrafast UV-blue scintillation with high efficiency and radiation stability, offering a promising alternative for next-generation radiation detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a scalable synthesis and treatment method for CsPbCl3 nanocrystals, revealing their ultrafast scintillation properties and stability, advancing the application of lead halide perovskites in radiation detection.

Findings

Ultrafast radioluminescence with 210 ps lifetime.

CdCl2 treatment eliminates surface trap states.

CsPbCl3 nanocrystals show high radiation stability.

Abstract

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (LHP-NCs) embedded in polymer matrices are gaining traction for next-generation radiation detectors. While progress has been made on green-emitting CsPbBr3 NCs, scant attention has been given to the scintillation properties of CsPbCl3 NCs, which emit size-tunable UV-blue light matching the peak efficiency of ultrafast photodetectors. In this study, we explore the scintillation characteristics of CsPbCl3 NCs produced through a scalable method and treated with CdCl2. Spectroscopic, radiometric and theoretical analysis on both untreated and treated NCs uncover deep hole trap states due to surface undercoordinated chloride ions, eliminated by Pb to Cd substitution. This yields near-perfect efficiency and resistance to polyacrylate mass-polymerization. Radiation hardness tests demonstrate stability to high gamma doses while time-resolved experiments reveal ultrafast radioluminescence with an average lifetime as short as 210 ps. These findings enhance our comprehension of LHP NCs' scintillation properties, positioning CsPbCl3 as a promising alternative to conventional fast scintillators.