Mechanochromism‐Free Cu <sub>4</sub> I <sub>4</sub> Complex‐Based Scintillators for Highly‐Efficient X‐Ray Excited Luminescence and Highly‐Resolution X‐Ray Tomography Imaging

Abstract Copper(I) halide cluster‐based complexes (especially Cu 4 X 4 ) are promising scintillators, but their practical application is limited by mechanochromism and nonradiative decay from cluster‐centered (3CC) transitions. Herein, novel octahedral or distorted‐octahedral Cu 4 X 4 (X = Cl, Br, I) clusters are reported, stabilized by a rigid diphenyl‐2‐pyridylphosphine ligand. These structures differ from classical cubane or stairstep geometries. The rigid ligand and intermolecular π – π interactions (π Ph –π Ph or π Py –π Ph ) effectively suppress 3 CC‐induced distortions and promote radiative 3 (M+X)LCT emission. A small singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔE ST ) enables dual emission pathways via thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and phosphorescence, leading to shortened lifetimes, high quantum yields (PLQY up to 87.77%), and a steady‐state X‐ray relative light yield 2.5‐fold higher than commercial scintillator Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 . The corresponding flexible scintillator films exhibit excellent spatial resolution (&gt;20 lp mm −1 ), and enable accurate 3D reconstruction of complex industrial components. These results highlight a robust strategy to enhance luminescence efficiency and stability of Cu 4 X 4 ‐based scintillators, offering great potential for high‐resolution panoramic X‐ray imaging and X‐ray tomography in medical diagnosis and industrial non‐destructive inspection.

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Publication Details

Journal
Laser & Photonics Review
Published
2025-09-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202501179
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.70
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article

Mechanochromism‐Free Cu 4 I 4 Complex‐Based Scintillators for Highly‐Efficient X‐Ray Excited Luminescence and Highly‐Resolution X‐Ray Tomography Imaging

Xiangmei Liu, Jiexue Pan, Mingli Liang, Zhiqiang Pan et al.
4 citations
Laser & Photonics Review
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
2.70
article

Mechanochromism‐Free Cu 4 I 4 Complex‐Based Scintillators for Highly‐Efficient X‐Ray Excited Luminescence and Highly‐Resolution X‐Ray Tomography Imaging

Xiangmei Liu, Jiexue Pan, Mingli Liang, Zhiqiang Pan, Shujuan Liu, Qiang Zhao, Jiacheng Shen, Tiantian Sang, Le Li, Kun Gang
article en
4 citations

Abstract

Abstract Copper(I) halide cluster‐based complexes (especially Cu 4 X 4 ) are promising scintillators, but their practical application is limited by mechanochromism and nonradiative decay from cluster‐centered (3CC) transitions. Herein, novel octahedral or distorted‐octahedral Cu 4 X 4 (X = Cl, Br, I) clusters are reported, stabilized by a rigid diphenyl‐2‐pyridylphosphine ligand. These structures differ from classical cubane or stairstep geometries. The rigid ligand and intermolecular π – π interactions (π Ph –π Ph or π Py –π Ph ) effectively suppress 3 CC‐induced distortions and promote radiative 3 (M+X)LCT emission. A small singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔE ST ) enables dual emission pathways via thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and phosphorescence, leading to shortened lifetimes, high quantum yields (PLQY up to 87.77%), and a steady‐state X‐ray relative light yield 2.5‐fold higher than commercial scintillator Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 . The corresponding flexible scintillator films exhibit excellent spatial resolution (&gt;20 lp mm −1 ), and enable accurate 3D reconstruction of complex industrial components. These results highlight a robust strategy to enhance luminescence efficiency and stability of Cu 4 X 4 ‐based scintillators, offering great potential for high‐resolution panoramic X‐ray imaging and X‐ray tomography in medical diagnosis and industrial non‐destructive inspection.

Laser & Photonics ReviewVol. 20(3)
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (CN), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
2.70
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