Characterization and imaging performance of nanoscintillator screen for high resolution X-ray imaging detectors

Abstract

We have synthesized europium-doped gadolinium oxide (Gd(2)O(3):Eu) scintillators by a precipitation method with advantages of simple process and low-temperature calcinations for high resolution X-ray imaging detectors. The powders with about 15-30 nm particle sizes were obtained by subsequent calcinations of the precursor at a different temperature of 600-800 degrees C for 10 h. The wavelength of the main emission peak was about 610 nm and as temperature increased, light intensity of the scintillator increased in the X-ray luminescence case. Imaging performance such as X-ray linearity and spatial resolution of both commercial bulk and nanocrystalline-Gd(2)O(3):Eu scintillator screens was measured and compared with the X-ray imaging system after coupling these to a CCD image sensor. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.