JP2010522806A - Scintillator and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A scintillation detector comprising nanoscale particles of a scintillation compound embedded in a plastic matrix.
Nanoscale particles may be made from metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, or metal halides. A method for preparing nanoscale particles is provided. The particles may be coated with an organic compound or polymer prior to incorporation into the plastic matrix. By incorporating nanoscale particles of titanium dioxide, a technique is also provided for matching the refractive index of the plastic matrix and the nanoscale particles. A scintillator may be coupled to one or more photodetectors to form a scintillation detection system.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates generally to scintillation materials for making scintillation detectors. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a scintillation material comprising nanoscale particles of metal oxide, metal oxyhalide, metal oxysulfide, or metal halide, and a method for its preparation. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a scintillation material comprising nanoscale particles of metal halide and a method for its preparation. Yet another embodiment of the present invention relates to a scintillation material comprising metal oxyhalide or metal oxysulfide nanoscale particles and a method for its preparation.

  A scintillator is a material that converts high-energy radiation such as X-rays and γ-rays into visible light. Scintillators are widely used in detection and non-invasive imaging techniques, for example in medical and screening imaging systems. In such a system, high-energy photons typically pass through the human body or object being imaged and collide with a scintillator connected to the photodetection device on the opposite side of the imaging volume. Scintillators typically generate optical photons in response to the impact of high energy photons. The optical photons can then be measured and quantified by a light detection device, thereby providing an alternative measure of the amount and position of high energy radiation incident on the detector. In addition, scintillators can be useful in systems used to detect radioactive materials such as contraband or contaminants that would otherwise be difficult to detect.

  With respect to non-invasive imaging techniques, one of the most important applications of scintillators is medical equipment that uses digital detection and storage systems to generate x-ray images. For example, current digital x-ray imaging systems such as CT scanners direct radiation from a light source to a subject, typically to a patient in a medical diagnostic application. Some of the radiation passes through the patient and strikes the detector. The detector surface converts the radiation into sensed photons. The detector is divided into individual image elements or pixels in a matrix and encodes the output signal based on the amount or intensity of radiation impinging on each pixel. Since radiation intensity changes as the radiation passes through the patient, images reconstructed based on the output signal provide a projected view of the patient's tissue similar to that available through conventional photographic film techniques To do.

  Another high-energy radiation-based imaging system is positron emission tomography (PET), which typically uses a scintillator-based detector with a plurality of pixels, typically arranged in a circular array. Each such pixel includes a scintillator cell coupled to a photomultiplier tube. In PET, chemical tracer compounds having the desired biological activity or affinity are labeled with a radioactive isotope that decays by positron emission. Thereafter, the emitted positron interacts with the electron and emits two 511 keV photons (γ rays). The two gamma rays are emitted simultaneously, move in opposite directions, penetrate the surrounding tissue, exit the patient's body, and become absorbed and recorded by the detector. By measuring the slight difference in the arrival times of the two photons at two points in the detector, the position of the positron inside the target can be calculated. This time difference limit is highly dependent on the stopping power, light output, and decay time of the scintillator material.

  Both CT and PET require a small pixel size to produce an accurate image, ie for good spatial resolution. To avoid inter-pixel contamination of the light generated by each luminescence module, the scintillator is made from a single crystal, or a transparent ceramic imaging plate cut or diced into small segments. Smaller segments are used with collimating reflectors between individual elements to maintain as much light as possible physically toward the individual detectors. As pixel sizes become finer, the dicing process limits the size of individual pixels as both manufacturing costs and process issues increase.

  In systems where even smaller pixel pitches are required, such as digital x-ray photography systems, phosphors such as CsI needles and fiber optic scintillator (FOS) faceplates have been used. However, these scintillators do not meet the more stringent luminescence requirements of CT systems. CsI-based scintillators have long decay times and result in afterglow that tends to blur the image. Furthermore, detectors based on FOS plates do not have the high conversion efficiency required for precise imaging.

  In contrast to the composite scintillators used in imaging applications, scintillators used for detection of radioactive contraband or contaminants are often simple plastic films made from materials such as polythiophene or polyanaline . However, these systems are not entirely specific to the type of radiation involved and can often give false warnings.

US2006 / 054863A1 publication US2002 / 0779455A1 WO2006 / 063409A WO2007 / 016193A US2006 / 231797A1 Publication US6036886A WO2006 / 038449A US2005 / 029495A1 US2008 / 241041A1 publication US2008 / 241040A1 publication

  Accordingly, there is a need for new scintillators that can be easily formed into materials with the small pixel size required for CT and PET applications while providing transparency and tailored luminescence properties.

  In one embodiment, the technique of the present invention provides a scintillator including a plastic matrix that includes nanoscale particles of embedded scintillation material. In various embodiments, the nanoscale particles may be made from metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, metal halides, or combinations thereof.

  In another embodiment, the technique of the present invention provides a scintillation detection system that includes a plastic matrix containing nanoscale particles of embedded scintillation material. One or more photodetectors are attached to the plastic matrix and configured to detect photons generated within the plastic matrix.

  In another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide a radiation detection and analysis system configured to analyze signals generated from a scintillation detection system, including a scintillation detection system and a signal processing system. The scintillation detection system is a scintillator comprising a plastic matrix containing embedded nanoscale particles of scintillation material and an attachment light detection device configured to generate a signal in response to photons generated from the scintillator. Produced.

  In yet another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide a method for manufacturing a scintillation detector. The method includes embedding nanoscale particles of scintillation material in a plastic matrix and attaching a photodetector system to the plastic matrix. The photodetector system includes one or more elements configured to convert photons generated in the plastic matrix into electrical signals.

  In one embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide a method for making nanoscale particles of halide-based scintillation materials. The method combines a first solution containing one or more metal salts and a second solution containing one or more halide precursors to form nanoscale particles of a halide-based scintillation material. And isolating the nanoscale particles from the combined first and second solutions. In one aspect, these solutions include an ionic liquid.

  In another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide another method for making nanoscale particles of halide-based scintillation materials. The method includes the steps of making a microemulsion, forming nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillation material in the microemulsion, and isolating the particles from the microemulsion. In one aspect, forming the nanoscale particles includes bubbling hydrogen halide gas through the microemulsion. In another aspect, these solutions include an ionic liquid.

  In another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide another method for making nanoscale particles of halide-based scintillation materials. The method comprises the steps of: creating a first microemulsion; adding a solution comprising one or more metal organic salts to the first microemulsion to form a second microemulsion; Isolating nanoscale particles of halide scintillation material from the second microemulsion. In one aspect, the first microemulsion includes an anion source as a precursor. In another aspect, these solutions include an ionic liquid.

  In another embodiment, the technique of the present invention provides yet another method for making nanoscale particles of halide-based scintillation materials. The method combines a step of forming a first microemulsion, a step of forming a second microemulsion, and the first microemulsion and the second microemulsion to form a combined microemulsion. And isolating the nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillation material from the combined microemulsion. In one aspect, the microemulsion is made using an ionic liquid.

In yet another embodiment, the present technique provides a crystalline scintillator comprising metal halide nanoscale particles that are less than about 100 nm in size. In one aspect, the metal halide comprises MX _n : Y (wherein M comprises at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and combinations thereof; X includes at least one of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof; Y is at least one selected from the group consisting of Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, Eu, and combinations thereof Including phosphors having a general formula of including a metal ion of a species; n is an integer of 1 to 4. In another aspect, the metal halide has the general formula _{[La (1-x) Ce} x] [Cl (l-y-z) Br (y-z) I z] 3 ( wherein, x, z, ( 1-yz), and (yz) are all in the range of 0 to 1).

  In another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide a crystalline scintillator comprising metal halide nanoscale particles that are less than about 100 nm in size.

  In one embodiment, the technique of the present invention provides a method for making nanoscale particles of oxide-based scintillation materials. The method includes the steps of forming a first microemulsion, forming a second microemulsion, mixing the first and second microemulsions to form a solution, and the solution Isolating precursor particles from and forming nanoscale particles of said oxide-based scintillation material from precursor particles.

  In another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide another method for making nanoscale particles of oxide-based scintillation materials. The method includes the steps of forming an organometallic solution, forming a first microemulsion, heating the organometallic solution, and slowly adding the organometallic solution to the first microemulsion. Forming a second microemulsion. The precursor particles are isolated from the second microemulsion solution, and the oxide-based scintillation material nanoscale particles are formed from the precursor particles.

  In another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide a method for making nanoscale particles of oxyhalide or oxysulfide-based scintillation materials. The method comprises adding an aqueous base to an aqueous solution containing one or more metal salts to precipitate a gel containing the one or more metal salts and removing free ions from the gel. Including. The gel is heated and dried to form nanoscale particles of the oxyhalide or oxysulfide type scintillation material.

  In another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide another method for making nanoscale particles of oxyhalide or oxysulfide-based scintillation materials. The method includes forming a first microemulsion and heating the solution to form a second microemulsion while adding the solution to the first microemulsion. Precursor particles are formed from the second emulsion, and nanoscale particles of the oxyhalide or oxysulfide type scintillation material are formed from the precursor particles.

  In yet another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide crystalline scintillator nanoscale particles of metal oxide based phosphors that are less than 100 nm in size.

  In another embodiment, the techniques of the present invention provide oxyhalide or oxysulfide crystalline scintillator nanoscale particles that are less than 100 nm in size.

  These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: Let's be done.

FIG. 2 illustrates a medical imaging unit, such as a computer tomography scanner or a positron emission scanner, in which embodiments of the present technique may be used. FIG. 3 illustrates a detector assembly used in a digital imaging system, such as CT or PET, in which embodiments of the present technique may be used. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an imaging system in which embodiments of the present technique can be used. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a scintillation detector system according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating scintillator particles having an adsorption initiation site for initiating a polymerization reaction such that a polymer coating is formed around the particles, according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention. 1 is a schematic view of a scintillator particle coated with a polymer according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a process for making oxide-based nanoscale scintillator particles according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another process for making oxide-based nanoscale scintillator particles according to embodiments of the present technique. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a process for making oxyhalide or oxysulfide-based nanoscale scintillator particles according to an embodiment of the present technique. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another process for making oxyhalide or oxysulfide-based nanoscale scintillator particles according to an embodiment of the present technique. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a process for making halide-based nanoscale scintillator particles according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another process for making halide-based nanoscale scintillator particles according to embodiments of the present technique. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating yet another process for making halide-based nanoscale scintillator particles according to embodiments of the present technique. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating yet another process for making halide-based nanoscale scintillator particles according to embodiments of the present technique. FIG. 4 shows a security arch used to detect radioactive contraband in accordance with an embodiment of the present technique. FIG. 3 shows a radiation detector for detecting underground radioactive material, according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention.

I. Imaging System Using Scintillator Embodiments of the techniques of the present invention include a new scintillation detector that can be used to detect radiation in imaging systems, security systems, and other equipment. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a medical imaging system 10 according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention. This system can be, for example, a positron emission tomography (PET) imager, a computer-aided tomography (CT) imager, a single positron emission tomography (SPECT) system, a mammography system, a tomosynthesis system, or a general X-ray based system, among others. An X-ray photography system may be used. An exemplary system has a frame 14 that houses at least a radiation detector and may include other devices such as a swivel gantry that moves the x-ray source and detector around the patient. In certain embodiments, the patient is placed on the slide table 12 and moves within the aperture 16 of the frame 14. In such embodiments, as the patient moves through the aperture 16, a cross-sectional image of the patient is generated by the data analysis and control system 13. Data analysis system 13 may include a number of units including computational, network, and display units. In the case of a CT scanner, the image can be actively generated by pivoting the x-ray source and detector contained in the frame 14 around the patient. Alternatively, in PET, SPECT, or other techniques, the image can be generated passively by detecting emissions from a radiation source previously ingested by the patient. In either case, the detector system typically includes a scintillator that absorbs high energy photons in the form of X-rays or gamma rays and re-emits this energy in the form of visible photons.

  An example of a scintillator that may be used in a medical imaging system is shown in FIG. The scintillator 18 may be made from a transparent ceramic material containing a scintillation compound. Alternatively, the scintillator may be made from a large crystal of a radiation sensitive metal halide, such as cesium iodide, or another radiation sensitive material. The scintillator assembly 20 typically includes a group of individual pixels 22 that can be cut from a block of transparent ceramic or crystalline scintillation material in an operation called dicing. As the material is cut into individual blocks corresponding to the pixels, each pixel can be optically isolated from the other pixels by a reflector. Each pixel may then be further joined to an individual photodetector, such as a photodiode, phototransistor, photomultiplier tube, charge coupled device, or other photoactive device.

  The use of such a scintillator is further illustrated by FIG. 3, but a scintillation assembly 24 of an exemplary imaging system, in this case a CT system, is shown. As shown in this figure, the x-ray source 26 projects a parallel beam 30 of x-rays through a patient 28. As detector assembly 18, 34 and light source 26 rotate 27 around the patient, the x-rays are attenuated or scattered by structures within patient 28 before impinging on scintillator 18. In the scintillator 18, many of the high energy photons of the X-ray beam 30 are absorbed and converted to lower energy visible photons. Visible photons are then detected by a photodetector array 34 attached to the light source 26 on the opposite side of the scintillator 18. Photodetector array 34 converts photons into electrical signals that are transmitted through conductive structures 36 to analysis electronics. The quality of the image may depend on the number of factors including the light transmission through the scintillator 18 that controls the amount of light that can reach the photodetector. Other important factors specific to the scintillator material are the amount of high energy radiation absorbed by the scintillator 18, called stopping power, and the conversion efficiency or quantum yield of the scintillator 18. Physical factors also control image quality, including pixel size and cross pixel separation, among others.

II. Scintillator with Nanoscale Particles in a Plastic Matrix FIG. 4 shows a scintillator 18 that can be used in a scintillation detector assembly, according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention. In this scintillator 18, the plastic matrix 38 contains nanoscale particles 40 of scintillation material. The plastic matrix 38 may contain other materials, such as nanoscale particles 42 of material for matching the refractive index, as discussed further below. The scintillation material nanoscale particles 40 absorb the high energy photons 44 and re-emit the absorbed energy as lower energy photons 46. The lower energy photons 46 can then be captured by the photodetector 34, converted into an electrical signal, and transmitted to the original analysis system 13 via the conductive structure 36. As discussed above, not all of the energy is captured and some of the high energy photons 48 pass through scintillator 18 and photodetector assembly 34.

A. Plastic Matrix Material The plastic matrix 38 may include a number of materials that transmit light at the frequency of the lower energy photons 46, including both thermoplastic and thermoset materials. In embodiments of the technique of the present invention, the matrix is polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polyamide, polymethylpentene (PMP), cellulosic polymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). ), Or a combination thereof. In other embodiments, the plastic matrix 38 comprises a material such as phenol formaldehyde resin, poly N-vinyl carbazole, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polysiloxane, polyphosphazene, polyimide, epoxide, phenolic resin, or combinations thereof. Good.

  These materials may be formed into a very small pixel size that may be required for a particular embodiment by a number of processing techniques. Such techniques may include injection molding, solvent casting, thermoforming, or reactive injection molding, among others. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any other plastic processing technique may be used as long as it is within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, since the plastic matrix 38 is more resistant to cut damage than currently used materials, current dicing techniques may be used to form the small pixel assembly. In certain embodiments of the present technique, dicing may not necessarily be necessary because the plastic matrix 38 may be an isotropic material such as a liquid crystal polymer (LCP). In these matrices, light transmission can be preferred or facilitated in one direction, such as from the front of the scintillator to the photodetector component, along with other directions such as lateral or left-right direction within the scintillator. Is not preferred or prevented.

B. Maximizing light transmission In addition to the choice of the transparent plastic matrix 38, light transmission through the scintillator 18 can be maximized by using two methods: nanoscale particles 40 and matching the refractive index. Good. The nanoscale particles 40 of scintillation material may be kept as small as possible to avoid scattered light in the scintillator. For example, in some embodiments, the particle size may be less than about 100 nm. Furthermore, the nanoscale particles 40 may be isotropic or spherical, or anisotropic. If the particle is anisotropic, a reasonable size for determining scattering is the cross-sectional area of the particle perpendicular to the direction of the incident light. If this cross-sectional area remains small, the use of anisotropic particles arranged in the direction of the incident light can increase the conversion efficiency of the system without significantly reducing light transmission.

  A second technique to maximize light transmission is to match the refractive index of the plastic matrix with the refractive index of the scintillation material at the wavelength of the scintillator emission. Table 1 below lists the refractive indices of scintillation materials that may be used in exemplary embodiments of the present technique. The range of these values is 1.8-1.9. In certain embodiments, these refractive indices can be matched by appropriate selection of the matrix material 38. In other embodiments, the refractive index can be matched by including titanium dioxide nanoscale particles 42 in the plastic matrix. These particles are too small to scatter light and therefore do not interfere with light transmission through the scintillator. However, the addition of titanium dioxide particles 42 can increase the refractive index of the plastic matrix. In this embodiment, by controlling the amount of titanium dioxide particles 42 required, the refractive index of the plastic matrix 38 can be adjusted so that the refractive indices of the nanoscale particles 40 of the scintillation material match. In other embodiments, nanoscale particles of tantalum oxide or hafnium oxide can be used to match the refractive indices of the matrix material and the scintillation material. The material used for the nanoscale particles 40 of the scintillation material may be any compound that has suitable scintillation properties and can be made into nanoscale particles.

C. Scintillation materials for nanoscale particles Materials that may be used in embodiments of the present invention include metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, or metal halides. For example, in the embodiment, the scintillation material, the general _{formula: Y 2 SiO 5: Ce;} Y 2 Si 2 O 7: Ce; LuAlO 3: Ce; Lu 2 SiO 5: Ce; Gd 2 SiO 5: Ce; YA1O 3 _{: Ce; ZnO: Ga; CdWO} 4; LuPO 4: Ce; PbWO 4; Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12; CaWO 4; (Y 1-x Gd x) 2 O 3: Eu; RE 3 A1 5 O 12: Ce (Wherein RE is at least one rare earth metal); or a metal oxide having a combination thereof. In another embodiment, one or more metal oxysulfides such as Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Tb, or Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Pr are included in the scintillation material in addition to or in place of the oxide. Also good. In other embodiments, the scintillation material may be a metal oxyhalide having the general formula LaOX: Tb, where X is Cl, Br, or I.

In other embodiments, the scintillator material is M (X) _n : Y, where M is at least one of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs; each X is independently F, Cl is Br, or I; Y is at least one of Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, and Eu; n is an integer including 1 to 4.) It may be a metal halide. Such phosphors may include, for example, LaC1 ₃ : Ce and LaBr ₃ : Ce, among others. In other embodiments, the scintillator material, instead of or in addition to the previous phosphors of the previous _{phosphors, [La (1-x)} Ce x] [Cl (1-y-z) Br (y-z ₎ I _z ] ₃ , wherein x, z, (1-yz), and (yz) may range from 0 to 1. Other metal halide species that may be used in embodiments of the present invention include LaCl ₃ : Ce, RbGd ₂ F ₇ : Ce, CeF ₃ , BaF ₂ , CsI (Na), CaF ₂ : Eu, LiI: Eu , CsI, CsF, CsI: Tl, NaI: Tl, and combinations thereof. Halide-like species such as CdS: In, and ZnS may be used in embodiments of the present invention.

  The relevant properties of various exemplary scintillation materials are detailed in Table 1 below. These examples only illustrate exemplary properties of materials that may be used as nanoscale scintillation materials and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will appreciate that nanoscale particles of the other scintillation materials described above may be used as long as they are within the scope of the present disclosure.

D. Nanoscale Particle Coatings As shown in Table 1, some scintillation materials have moderate to very high hygroscopicity and tend to decompose when they absorb water from the atmosphere. Furthermore, the scintillation material nanoscale particles 40 may lack compatibility with the plastic matrix 38 and may agglomerate during processing. Both of these effects can be reduced by coating the particles 40 prior to incorporation into the matrix. The coating may comprise a small molecule ligand or a polymer ligand. Exemplary small molecule ligands may include octylamine, oleic acid, trioctylphosphine oxide, or trialkoxysilane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other small molecule ligands may be used in addition to or in place of those listed herein. The particles 40 may be synthesized from the surface of the nanoscale particles 40 or coated with a polymeric ligand that may be added to the surface of the nanoscale particles 40.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of coating of particles 40 by growing polymer chains from the surface of particles 40. In this figure, the nanoscale particles 40 become functional by adding a polymer initiating compound such that polymer initiating sites 52 are formed on the particles 40. In certain embodiments, such polymer-initiating compounds may include amines, carboxylic acids, or alkoxysilanes, among others. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other polymer-initiating compounds can function in addition to or in place of those listed herein. Once the particles 40 are functionalized with the starting compound, monomers may be added to the solution to grow the polymer or oligomer chain 54 from the starting site 52. The final size of the shell 56 formed around the particles 40 will depend on the number of start sites 52 and the amount of monomer added to the solution. One skilled in the art will appreciate that these parameters may be adjusted to the desired result.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which particles 40 are coated with polymer 58. In this case, the polymer chains may be selected to interact with the particles and may include random copolymers and block copolymers. In the latter case, one monomer chain may be selected to interact with the particle 40, while the other monomer chain may be selected to interact with the polymer matrix. In certain embodiments, the polymer coating may include groups such as amines, carboxylic acids, and alkoxysilanes, among others. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other groups can be effective.

III. Several different procedures can be used to produce nanoscale particles 40. For example, the nanoscale particles 40 of the metal oxide species described herein can be prepared by the microemulsion sol-gel method, described in detail with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8 below. The metal oxyhalide or oxysulfide species nanoscale particles 40 used in other embodiments described herein are prepared by the process detailed with respect to FIGS. 9 and 10 below. In addition, metal halide species nanoscale particles for use in other embodiments described herein may be prepared using an ionic liquid, as described in detail with respect to FIGS. 11-14 below. Can do.

  Most of these processes utilize the properties of microemulsions to control particle size. In a microemulsion, finely dispersed solvent droplets are suspended in another immiscible solvent such as water-in-oil. The droplet is stabilized by the addition of an amphiphilic molecule such as a surfactant and reduces the interfacial energy between the two incompatible solvents. The amount of amphiphilic molecules can control the size of the droplets and the resulting particles. In a water-in-oil configuration, water droplets are typically sized in the nanometer range and can be used as reactants to form the final particles. For materials that are sensitive to water, such as metal halides, microemulsions can be formed using ionic liquids instead of water.

A. Metal Oxide FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a sol-gel based microemulsion method for forming nanoscale particles 40 of metal oxide scintillation material. In this procedure, a first microemulsion 72 is formed by combining an aqueous sol solution 66 and an organic solution 70 containing a surfactant 68.

In this example, the aqueous sol solution 66 is formed by first dissolving one or more silicate compounds, metal salts, and / or organometallics 60 in alcohol, as shown in block 62. Next, the aqueous acid solution 64 is added to the alcohol solution to partially hydrolyze the silicate, whereby the sol solution 66 is formed. In an exemplary embodiment, the alcohol used is 1-hexanol. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other alcohols may be used, for example, linear or branched alkane based alcohols containing 1 to 10 carbons. In an exemplary embodiment, the silicate compound may be tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), or a combination thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other silicates may be used for the sol solution precursor. In addition, other precursors may be used in addition to or in place of silicates to form compounds having different matrices. For example, to form a scintillation compound having an aluminum oxide matrix, aluminum containing compounds including, for example, triethylaluminum or metals (tetraethylaluminum) can be used, including lanthanoids, group 1 metals, Includes at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of Group 2 metals, Group 3 metals, Group 6 metals, Group 12 metals, Group 13 metals, Group 14 metals, and Group 15 metals It is. In other embodiments, soluble salts of metals, such as (Y _1-x Gd _x ) ₂ O ₃ : Eu or PbWO ₄ , can be used without any silicate addition. If a metal salt is used without a silicate precursor, an aqueous base can be used in place of the acid 64 to form a partially gelled solution. In this embodiment, base 78 may be omitted from the procedure.

The metal salt selected will depend on the desired final metal oxide. In an exemplary embodiment, the metal salt is Y (NO ₃ ) ₃ and Ce (NO ₃ ) ₃ . One skilled in the art will appreciate that other metal oxide scintillation materials may be made by using this process, which may require selecting a different metal salt. For example, to produce scintillation compounds such as PbWO _4, such salts may include Pb (NO ₃ ) ₂ and WCl ₄ or W (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₆ . One skilled in the art will appreciate that each independent scintillation compound requires the selection of an appropriate precursor salt.

  The second component of the first microemulsion 72 is formed by dissolving the surfactant 68 in the organic solvent shown in block 70. In an exemplary embodiment, the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (5) nonylphenyl ether available as Igepal ™ CO-520 from ICI Americas. A person skilled in the art, among others, aromatic ethoxylates; polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether available as Brij (TM) from ICI Americas; sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactants available as Tween (TM) from ICI Americas; Span (TM) from ICI Americas It will be appreciated that any number of surfactants may be used, including polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactants available as); or surfactants such as alkylphenols. In an exemplary embodiment, the organic solvent is n-hexane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of other organic solvents may be used, including alkyl or aryl solvents.

  The second microemulsion 80 is formed by dissolving the surfactant 74 in an organic solvent and then adding a solution 78 of an aqueous base, as shown in block 76. In an exemplary embodiment, the surfactant may be polyoxyethylene (5) nonyl phenyl ether available as Igepal ™ CO-520 from ICI Americas. However, as discussed above, any number of other surfactants may be used as long as they are within the scope of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, n-hexane is used as the solvent. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of other organic solvents may be used, including alkyl or aryl solvents. In certain embodiments of the present technique, the aqueous base is ammonium hydroxide. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other aqueous base solutions may be used as long as they are within the scope of the present disclosure.

  The first microemulsion 72 and the second microemulsion 80 are combined as shown in block 82 and another sol-gel containing nanoscale droplets of a metal oxide precursor for the scintillation material. Form a microemulsion. The particles of sol-gel material may be isolated from the combined microemulsion as shown in block 84. In an exemplary embodiment, this isolation can be performed by lyophilization. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other techniques may be used to isolate the particles, including pressure filtration and centrifugation, among others. After isolation, the particles can be fired to form the final nanoscale particles of the metal oxide scintillator. This calcination is typically performed in an atmosphere controlled at 900 to 1400 ° C. for 1 minute to 10 hours. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the precise conditions required for firing depend on the particle size and the material selected.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another procedure for forming a metal oxide based scintillator according to an embodiment. In this procedure, one or more silicate compounds and one or more organometallic salts 86 are dissolved in an organic solvent as shown in block 88 to form a silicate / metal salt solution 90. In exemplary embodiments, the silicate compound may be tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), or a combination thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other silicates may be used in the sol solution precursor. The metal salt selected will depend on the final desired metal oxide. In an exemplary embodiment, the organometallic salt is yttrium hexanoate or yttrium carboxylate. One skilled in the art will appreciate that this process can be used to make other metal oxide scintillation materials as listed above, although it may be necessary to select a different metal salt.

  Surfactant 92 is then dissolved in an organic solvent as shown in block 94. Water 96 is added to this solution to form a microemulsion 98. In an exemplary embodiment, the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (5) nonylphenyl ether available as Igepal ™ CO-520 from ICI Americas. A person skilled in the art, among others, aromatic ethoxylates; polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether available as Brij (TM) from ICI Americas; sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactants available as Tween (TM) from ICI Americas; Span (TM) from ICI Americas It will be appreciated that any number of surfactants may be used, including polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactants available as); or surfactants such as alkylphenols. In an exemplary embodiment, the organic solvent is n-hexane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of other organic solvents may be used, including alkyl or aryl solvents.

  The silicate and / or metal salt solution 90 can be heated and slowly added to the microemulsion 98 to form sol-gel particles containing the metal oxide precursor, as indicated by reference numeral 100. As shown in block 102, these particles can be isolated from the microemulsion, such as by lyophilization. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other techniques may be used to isolate the particles, including pressure filtration and centrifugation, among others. After isolation, the particles can be fired to form the final nanoscale particles of the metal oxide scintillator. This calcination is typically performed in a controlled atmosphere at 900 to 1400 ° C. for 1 minute to 10 hours. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the precise conditions required for firing depend on the particle size and the material selected.

B. Metal Oxyhalides and Oxysulfides Methods that may be used to form nanoscale particles of metal oxyhalides or metal oxysulfide scintillation materials are shown in the block diagram of FIG. In this method, as shown in block 106, the metal salt 104 is dissolved in water. In an embodiment of the technique of the present invention, the metal salts are La (NO ₃ ) ₃ and Ce (NO ₃ ) ₃ . One skilled in the art will appreciate that different metal salts need to be selected, but that this method can be used to make other metal oxyhalide or metal oxysulfide scintillation materials. Such metal salts may include metals and combinations of metals selected from Groups 2, 3, 13, 14, and 15 of the standard periodic table. In embodiments of the technique of the present invention, water may be distilled off, otherwise it may be purified to remove ionic contaminants.

Aqueous base 108 is then added to the aqueous solution to precipitate a gel containing metal ions. In an embodiment of the present technique, the aqueous base is ammonium hydroxide. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other aqueous base solutions may be used as long as they are within the scope of the present disclosure. As indicated at block 110, the precipitated gel can be washed to remove excess free ions. The gel can be heated and stirred as shown in block 112 and then oven dried as shown in block 120 to form a nanoscale crystalline precipitate. A hydrogen anion gas, such as HCl, HBr, or H ₂ S, for example, is bubbled through the water as shown at block 114 to form a saturated solution 118 in which the hydrogen anion gas is dissolved in water. The final metal halide can then be formed by annealing the dried nanoscale crystalline precipitate in an oven through which water saturated hydrogen anion gas 118 flows, as shown in block 122. In other embodiments, HF or HI can be used with appropriate heating and / or moisture removal. In still other embodiments, the procedures detailed above can be used to form oxysulfide materials such as Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Tb or Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Pr. In this embodiment, the final oxysulfide phase is formed by forming a gel as described above and then annealing with flowing water saturated with H ₂ S. In another embodiment, the metal oxysulfide may be formed by dissolving a metal salt 104, such as gadolinium nitrate, in propylene carbonate containing tertiary butyl sulfide as an emulsifier. A metal salt solution is added to water 106 to form micelles. The micelles are precipitated by adding base 108 and then isolated from the solution and oven dried as indicated at 120. The use of a water saturated hydrogen anion gas stream 122 during the annealing process may be optional in this embodiment.

An alternative procedure for forming a metal oxyhalide or metal oxysulfide is shown in the block diagram of FIG. In this procedure, the organometallic salt 124 is dissolved in an organic solvent as indicated at block 126. In an embodiment of the technique of the present invention, the organometallic salt is La (OR) ₃ and Ce (OR) ₃ where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbons. One skilled in the art will recognize that different metal salts may need to be selected, but it is understood that this method may be used to make other metal oxyhalide or metal oxysulfide scintillation materials. Such metal salts may include lanthanoids, metals selected from Groups 1, 2, 3, 13, 14, and 15 of the standard periodic table, and combinations of these metals. In an exemplary embodiment, the organic solvent is n-hexane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of other organic solvents may be used, including alkyl or aryl solvents.

Microemulsion 136 is prepared by dissolving surfactant 130 in an organic solvent as shown in block 132 and then adding ammonium halide 134 to the solution. In an embodiment of the technique of the present invention, the surfactant is polyoxyethylene (5) nonylphenyl ether available as Igepal ™ CO-520 from ICI Americas. A person skilled in the art, inter alia, aromatic ethoxylates; polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether available as Brij (TM) from ICI Americas; sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactants available as Tween (TM) from ICI Americas; Span (TM) from ICI Americas It will be appreciated that any number of surfactants may be used, including polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactants available as); or surfactants such as alkylphenols. In an exemplary embodiment, the organic solvent is n-hexane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of other organic solvents may be used, including alkyl or aryl solvents. In embodiments of the present technique, the ammonia halide may be NH ₄ Cl, NH ₄ Br, NH ₄ I, NH ₄ F, or a combination thereof.

In other embodiments, the procedure detailed in FIG. 10 may be used to form oxysulfides such as, for example, Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Tb or Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Pr. In this embodiment, the starting metal organic salt may comprise a sulfur compound in which one or more of the —OR groups are replaced with —SR groups. An example of such a compound may be Gd (OR) ₂ (SR). Alternatively, thioacetamide or other sulfur-containing species can be used in place of the halogenated ammonia compound to form the oxysulfide species.

  The solution containing the organometallic salt is heated as indicated at block 128 and then slowly added to the microemulsion 136 as indicated by 138 to form particles of the metal oxyhalide or oxysulfide precursor. be able to. As indicated at block 140, these particles can be isolated from the microemulsion by lyophilization. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other techniques may be used to isolate the particles, including pressure filtration and centrifugation, among others.

  After isolation, the particles may be fired to form the final nanoscale particles of the metal oxide scintillator. This calcination is typically performed in an atmosphere controlled at 900 to 1400 ° C. for 1 minute to 10 hours. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the exact conditions required for firing depend on the particle size and the material selected.

C. Use of Ionic Liquids to Make Metal Halides The procedure for forming metal oxide and metal oxyhalide scintillation compounds discussed above uses water to form nanoscale particles for scintillators. However, this is not possible for materials that are sensitive to water, such as highly hygroscopic metal halide scintillators. Examples of such materials may include NaI: Tl, CsI: Tl, and CsI: Na halide salts. In the case of these materials, microemulsions made from ionic liquids and organic solvents may be used. Ionic liquids are a new class of highly polar non-aqueous solvents that have properties similar to water. For example, replacing sodium in NaCl with a bulk imidazolium cation, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium, induces an ionic salt-like liquid with a melting point of -75 ° C, which is I can do an alternative. This feature provides significant advantages in the preparation of hygroscopic materials and allows the use of common water soluble reactants. The ionic liquid may be used to form a microemulsion, as already described with respect to water, and a nanoscale liquid suspension of the ionic liquid in an organic solvent is stabilized by the addition of a surfactant. . Nanoscale droplets may be used as reactants to control the size of the metal halide particles formed.

  Possible cations that may be used in the ionic liquid are shown below.

In these structures, R ^{1 to} R ⁴ may be alkyl groups such as —CH ₃ , —CH ₂ CH ₃ , or —CH ₂ CH ₂ CH _3, among others. Possible anions that may be used to form the ionic liquid are shown below.

In these structures, R represents inter alia _-CH 3, or an alkyl group such as _-CH 2 CH ₃ or _-CH 2 _CH 2 _{CH 3,.} In embodiments of the present technique, ionic liquids that may be used include imidazolium chloride or imidazolium bromide, among others. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the selection of the particular anion and cation involved will depend on the melting point, dissolution, and other properties desired for the solution.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a procedure utilizing an ionic liquid to form metal halide nanoscale particles according to an embodiment of the present technique. In this procedure, the metal solution 142 is formed by dissolving one or more metal salts 144 in the ionic liquid 146. In embodiments of the present technique, such metal salts may include lanthanum, cerium, rubidium, gadolinium, barium, cesium, calcium, europium, indium, praseodymium, terbium, thallium, and combinations thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that this procedure may be used to make nanoscale particles of many other metal halide species, and the specific metal chosen will depend on the desired end product. Will be. Such metals may include, for example, lanthanides or metals selected from Groups 1, 2, 3, 13, 14, or 15 of the standard periodic table, or combinations of metals. The ionic liquid used can be selected as discussed above.

The halide solution 148 is prepared by dissolving the halide salt 150 in the second ionic liquid 152. This second ionic liquid may be the same as the first ionic liquid, or a different ionic liquid may be selected as described above. In embodiments of the present technique, the halide salt may be ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, or a combination thereof. One skilled in the art will recognize that NR ₄ Y (where each R is independently selected to be hydride, alkyl, aryl, or halide, and Y is fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, or It will be appreciated that other halide type anion source compounds may be used, including materials having the general formula: Furthermore, in other embodiments, other compounds may be used that provide an anion that reacts similarly to halides such as, for example, sulfur. Such compounds may include, for example, ammonium sulfide, thioacetamide, thiourea, or similar compounds.

  The two solutions are combined as shown at 154 to form the final nanoscale particles 156. Mixing may be done slowly so that the particle size formed is optimal. One skilled in the art will appreciate that energy may be applied during this process to accelerate the reaction, such as by heating, sonication, or other techniques. In embodiments of the techniques of the present invention, the particles may be filtered, phase separated, lyophilized, or any other technique that can be used to isolate the solid product from the microemulsion, as shown in block 158. Can be isolated from solution.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram of another procedure for forming metal halide nanoscale particles in accordance with embodiments of the present technique. In this procedure, the organometallic solution 160 is formed by dissolving one or more organometallic salts 162 in an organic solvent 164. In an exemplary embodiment, the organic solvent is n-hexane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of other organic solvents may be used, including alkyl or aryl solvents. In embodiments of the present technique, such organometallic salts may include lanthanum, praseodymium, cerium, terbium, thallium, europium, and combinations thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that this procedure may be used to make nanoscale particles of many other metal halide species, and the particular metal chosen will depend on the desired end product. Will be. Such metals may include, for example, lanthanides and metals selected from the first, second, third, thirteenth, fourteenth, or fifteenth of the standard periodic table, or combinations of metals. The organic anion used to make the metal cation soluble in the organic solution includes one or more independently selected alkoxy groups, —OR, where R is 1 to 10 A carbon chain containing carbon).

  A halide microemulsion 166 is then prepared by mixing the halide solution 168 and the surfactant solution 170. The halide solution 168 is prepared using the techniques described above with respect to block 148 of FIG. The surfactant solution 170 is formed by dissolving the surfactant in an organic solvent. In an embodiment of the technique of the present invention, the surfactant is a polyoxyethylene (5) nonylphenyl ether, available as Igepal ™ CO-520 from ICI Americas; an aromatic ethoxylate; Brij ™ from ICI Americas, among others. A sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant available from ICI Americas as Tween ™; a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant available as Span ™ from ICI Americas; or Alkylphenol may be used. In an exemplary embodiment, the organic solvent is n-hexane. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of other organic solvents may be used, including alkyl or aryl solvents.

  The organometallic solution 160 is combined with a halide microemulsion 166 as indicated by 172 to form metal halide nanoscale particles 174. Mixing may be done slowly so that the particle size formed is optimized. One skilled in the art will appreciate that energy may be added to accelerate the reaction, such as by heating, sonication, centrifugation, or other techniques. In embodiments of the present technique, the nanoscale particles may be filtered, phase separated, lyophilized, or any other that may be used to isolate the solid product from the microemulsion, as shown in block 176. Can be isolated from solution by

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating another technique that may be used to form metal halide nanoscale particles in accordance with embodiments of the present technique. In this procedure, a metal microemulsion 180 is prepared by mixing a metal solution 182 and a surfactant solution 184. Metal solution 182 is prepared by techniques such as those already described with respect to block 142 of FIG. Surfactant solution 184 is prepared by the techniques already described with respect to 170 of FIG. The halide gas 178 may then be bubbled through the metal microemulsion 180 as indicated by 186 to form metal halide nanoscale particles 188. In embodiments of the present technique, the halide gas may be Cl ₂ , Br ₂ , F ₂ , or I ₂ with heat applied. One skilled in the art will appreciate that energy may be applied during this process to accelerate the reaction, such as by heating, sonication, or other techniques. In embodiments of the present technique, the nanoscale particles may be used to isolate a solid product from filtration, phase separation, lyophilization, or microemulsion, as shown in block 190. It can be isolated from the solution by other techniques.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram of another method for forming a metal halide species in which both metal and halide precursors are contained in a microemulsion according to an embodiment of the technique of the present invention. Metal microemulsion 192 may be prepared by combining metal solution 194 and surfactant solution 196 as previously described with respect to block 180 of FIG. The halide microemulsion 198 may be prepared by techniques by combining the halide solution 200 and the surfactant solution 202 as previously described with respect to block 166 of FIG. Microemulsions 192 and 198 are combined as indicated by 204 to form metal halide nanoscale particles 206. One skilled in the art will appreciate that energy may be applied during this process to accelerate the reaction, such as by heating, sonication, or other techniques. In embodiments of the present technique, the nanoscale particles can be filtered, phase separated, lyophilized, or any other that may be used to isolate the solid product from the microemulsion, as shown in block 208. Can be isolated from solution by

IV. Other Applications The scintillator of the technique of the present invention is not limited to application in medical imaging devices. Indeed, these devices can be used in many structures where scintillation is required for radiation detection. Examples of such applications are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram of a security scanner for detecting the presence of radioactive contaminants or smuggled goods in a human body or article. The scanner includes a frame 210 that can accommodate one or more scintillation detection assemblies 212. These scintillation detection assemblies 212 may include a plastic matrix containing nanoscale particles of embedded scintillation material in conjunction with a photodetector, according to embodiments of the present technique. As shown in this figure, multiple panels may be used to provide an approximate location of the radioactive material within the article passing through the frame 210. In an embodiment of the technique of the present invention, the alarm device 214 may be configured so that an alarm sounds once when radioactive material is detected. In other embodiments, analysis and control system 216 may be used in addition to or in place of alarm device 214 to determine the location or type of detected contraband.

  Another application for the scintillator of the technique of the present invention is in a detector for determining underground radioactivity. This use is illustrated in the drawing of FIG. In this figure, there is a detector unit 220 in the well bore 218 that descends in the borehole. The detector unit 220 may be made from a plastic matrix containing nanoscale particles of embedded scintillation material in conjunction with a photodetector or photodetector array, according to embodiments of the present technique. A scintillation detector assembly 222 is housed. The detector unit 220 is connected to the ground by a cable 224 that communicates signals from the detector assembly 222 to a signal analysis and control unit 226 located on the ground. The detector unit 220 may be used in oil mining applications, as well as other applications, such as predicting radioactive materials, among others.

  While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Medical imaging system 12 Slide table 13 Data analysis and control system 14 Frame 16 Aperture 18 Scintillator 20 Scintillator assembly 22 Pixel 34 Photo detector array 40 Nanoscale particle 54 Oligomer chain 56 Shell 210 Frame 212 Scintillation detection assembly 214 Alarm device 216 Analysis And control system 218 well 220 detector unit 224 cable

Claims (154)

A scintillator comprising a plastic matrix comprising nanoscale particles of embedded scintillation material. The scintillator according to claim 1, wherein the plastic matrix includes at least one of an isotropic thermoplastic resin, an anisotropic thermoplastic resin, an isotropic thermosetting resin, or an anisotropic thermosetting resin. At least one of titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide, or combinations thereof in an amount sufficient to increase the refractive index of the plastic matrix so that the plastic matrix matches the refractive index of the scintillation material. The scintillator of claim 1, comprising: The plastic matrix is polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polyamide, polymethylpentene, cellulosic polymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), phenol formaldehyde resin, poly N-vinyl. The scintillator of claim 1 comprising at least one of carbazole, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polysiloxane, polyphosphazene, polyimide, epoxide, phenolic resin, or combinations thereof. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the nanoscale particles of the scintillator material are less than about 100 nm in size. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the nanoscale particles of the scintillation material comprise a material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, metal halides, and combinations thereof. Nanoscale particles of the scintillation material are (Y, Gd) ₂ O ₃ : Eu; Y ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Y ₂ Si ₂ O ₇ : Ce; LuAlO ₃ : Ce; Lu ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Gd _{2 SiO 5: Ce; YA1O 3:} Ce; ZnO: Ga; CdWO 4; LuPO 4: Ce; PbWO 4; Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12; CaWO 4; Gd 2 O 2 S: Tb; Gd 2 O 2 S: Pr Or (RE) ₃ Al ₅ O ₁₂ : Ce (wherein RE is at least one rare earth metal); or at least one phosphor having a combination thereof. The scintillator described. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material comprise at least one phosphor having the general formula LaOX: Tb, where X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof. The scintillator according to claim 1, comprising: The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material has the general formula _{[La (1-x) Ce} x] in _{[Cl (l-y-z} ) Br (y-z) I z] 3 ( wherein, 0 ≦ x ≦ 1; 2. The method of claim 1 comprising at least one phosphor having 0 ≦ (1-yz) ≦ 1; 0 ≦ z ≦ 1; and 0 ≦ (yz) ≦ 1. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material have a general formula of MX _n : Y (wherein M is at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and combinations thereof) X includes at least one halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof; Y includes Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, Eu, and The method of claim 1, comprising a phosphor having at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of these combinations; n is an integer including 1 to 4. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material have a general formula of LnX ₃ : Ce (where each X is independently Cl, Br, or I; RbGd ₂ F ₇ : Ce; CeF ₃ , BaF ₂ , CsI ( Na), CaF ₂ : Eu, LiI: Eu, CsI, CsF, CsI: Tl, NaI: Tl, CdS: In, ZnS, or a combination thereof). Item 2. The method according to Item 1. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the nanoscale particles of the scintillation material are coated with at least one of a plastic resin or an organic compound before being incorporated into the plastic matrix. A plastic matrix comprising nanoscale particles of embedded scintillation material;
A scintillation detection system comprising: one or more photodetectors attached to the plastic matrix and configured to detect photons generated in the plastic matrix. The scintillation detection system according to claim 13, wherein the plastic matrix includes at least one of an isotropic thermoplastic resin, an anisotropic thermoplastic resin, an isotropic thermosetting resin, or an anisotropic thermosetting resin. . The scintillation detection system of claim 13, wherein the plastic matrix comprises nanoscale particles of titanium dioxide in an amount sufficient to increase the refractive index of the plastic matrix to match the refractive index of the scintillation material. The scintillation detection system of claim 13, wherein the nanoscale particles of the scintillation material comprise a material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, metal halides, and combinations thereof. The scintillation detection system of claim 13, wherein the plastic matrix is formed in individual cells, each of the individual cells being attached to a corresponding photodetector. The scintillation detection system of claim 13, wherein the plastic matrix is cut into individual cells, each of the individual cells being attached to a corresponding photodetector. The plastic matrix is isotropic and the isotropic arrangement of the plastic matrix generally comprises one or more photodetectors attached to the plastic matrix from nanoscale particles of the scintillation material. The scintillation detection system of claim 13, wherein The plastic matrix is isotropic and the isotropic arrangement of the plastic matrix generally suppresses light transmission in a direction substantially horizontal to the surface of the one or more photodetectors; The scintillation detection system according to claim 13. 32. The scintillation detection system of claim 31, wherein the one or more photodetectors include at least one of a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a charge coupled array element. A scintillator comprising a plastic matrix comprising nanoscale particles of embedded scintillation material, and a photodetection device attached to the scintillator and configured to generate a signal in response to photons generated by the scintillator. A scintillation detection system;
A radiation detection and analysis system comprising: a signal processing system configured to analyze a signal generated by the scintillation detection system. A positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device, a computer tomography (CT) imaging device, a single positron emission tomography (SPECT) system, a mammography system, a tomosynthesis system, or a general X-ray based X-ray photographic system 23. The radiation detection and analysis system of claim 22 comprising. 23. The radiation detection and analysis system of claim 22, including a security scanner for detecting radioactive contraband. 24. The radiation detection and analysis system of claim 22, comprising a radiation detector for use underground. 23. The radiation detection and analysis system of claim 22, wherein the plastic matrix comprises nanoscale particles of titanium dioxide in an amount sufficient to increase the refractive index of the plastic matrix to match the refractive index of the scintillation material. . The radiation detection and detection according to claim 22, wherein the plastic matrix comprises at least one of an isotropic thermoplastic resin, an anisotropic thermoplastic resin, an isotropic thermosetting resin, or an anisotropic thermosetting resin. Analysis system. 23. The radiation detection and analysis system of claim 22, wherein the nanoscale particles of scintillation material comprise a material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, metal halides, and combinations thereof. . Embedding nanoscale particles of scintillation material in a plastic matrix;
Attaching to the plastic matrix a photodetector comprising one or more elements configured to convert photons into electrical signals. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plastic matrix comprises at least one of an isotropic thermoplastic resin, an anisotropic thermoplastic resin, an isotropic thermosetting resin, or an anisotropic thermosetting resin. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plastic matrix comprises nanoscale particles of titanium dioxide in an amount sufficient to increase the refractive index of the plastic matrix to match the refractive index of the scintillation material. The plastic matrix is polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polyamide, polymethylpentene, cellulosic polymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), phenol formaldehyde resin, poly N-vinyl. 30. The method of claim 29, comprising at least one of carbazole, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polysiloxane, polyphosphazene, polyimide, epoxide, phenolic resin, or combinations thereof. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the nanoscale particles of the scintillator material are less than about 100 nm in size. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the nanoscale particles of the scintillation material comprise a material selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal oxyhalides, metal oxysulfides, metal halides, and combinations thereof. Nanoscale particles of the scintillation material are (Y, Gd) ₂ O ₃ : Eu; Y ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Y ₂ Si ₂ O ₇ : Ce; LuAlO ₃ : Ce; Lu ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Gd _{2 SiO 5: Ce; YA1O 3:} Ce; ZnO: Ga; CdWO 4; LuPO 4: Ce; PbWO 4; Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12; CaWO 4; Gd 2 O 2 S: Tb; Gd 2 O 2 S: Pr _{; (RE) 3 Al 5 O} 12: Ce (. wherein, RE is at least one rare earth metal) formula; comprises at least one phosphor having a or a combination thereof, according to claim 29 The method described. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material comprise at least one phosphor having a general formula of LaOX: Tb (wherein X is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, and mixtures thereof). 30. The method of claim 29, comprising. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material has the general formula _{[La (1-x) Ce} x] in _{[Cl (l-y-z} ) Br (y-z) I z] 3 ( wherein, 0 ≦ x ≦ 1; 30. The method of claim 29, comprising a phosphor having 0 ≦ (1-yz) ≦ 1; 0 ≦ z ≦ 1; and 0 ≦ (yz) ≦ 1. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material have a general formula of MX _n : Y (wherein M is at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and combinations thereof) X includes at least one halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof; Y includes Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, Eu, and 30. The method of claim 29, comprising a phosphor having at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of these combinations; n is an integer including 1 to 4. Nanoscale particles of the scintillation material are LaCl ₃ : Ce, RbGd ₂ F ₇ : Ce, CeF ₃ , BaF ₂ , CsI (Na), CaF ₂ : Eu, LiI: Eu, CsI, CsF, CsI: Tl, NaI. 30. The method of claim 29, comprising at least one phosphor having the general formula: Tl, CdS: In, ZnS, or a combination thereof. 30. The scintillator of claim 29, wherein the nanoscale particles of the scintillation material are coated with at least one of a plastic resin or an organic compound prior to incorporation into the plastic matrix. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more photodetectors comprise at least one of a photomultiplier tube, a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a charge coupled array element. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plastic matrix is formed into individual cells, each of the individual cells being attached to a corresponding element in one or more elements of the photodetector system. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plastic matrix is cut into individual cells, each of the individual cells being attached to a corresponding element in one or more elements of the photodetector system. The plastic matrix is isotropic and the isotropic arrangement of the plastic matrix generally comprises one or more photodetectors attached to the plastic matrix from nanoscale particles of the scintillation material. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein The plastic matrix is isotropic and the isotropic arrangement of the plastic matrix generally suppresses light transmission in a direction substantially horizontal to the surface of the one or more photodetectors; 30. The method of claim 29. Combining a first solution containing one or more metal salts and a second solution containing one or more halide precursors to form nanoscale particles of a halide-based scintillation material;
Isolating the nanoscale particles from the combined first and second solutions. A method for producing nanoscale particles of a halide scintillation material. The first and second solutions both contain an ionic liquid, and each ionic liquid is at least one selected from the group consisting of imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, phosphonium, tetraalkylammonium, sulfonium, and combinations thereof. And at least one anion selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfate, tosylate, methanesulfonate, bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, halide, and combinations thereof. 49. The method of claim 46, comprising ions. The one or more metal salts are selected from the group consisting of lanthanides, Group 1 elements, Group 2 elements, Group 3 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements, and combinations thereof. 48. The method of claim 46, comprising at least one selected metal anion. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the one or more metal salts comprises at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, terbium, thallium, and combinations thereof. Said one or more halide precursors are of the general formula NR ₄ Y, wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrides, alkyls, aryls, and halides; 47. The method of claim 46, comprising at least a halide species comprising an anion selected from the group consisting of chloride, chloride, bromide, iodide, and combinations thereof. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material have a general formula of MX _n : Y (wherein M is at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and combinations thereof) X includes at least one halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof; Y includes Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, Eu, and 47. The method of claim 46, comprising a phosphor having at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of these combinations; n is an integer including 1 to 4. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material has the general formula _{[La (1-x) Ce} x] in _{[Cl (l-y-z} ) Br (y-z) I z] 3 ( wherein, 0 ≦ x ≦ 1; 47. The method of claim 46, comprising a phosphor having 0 ≦ (1-yz) ≦ 1; 0 ≦ z ≦ 1; and 0 ≦ (yz) ≦ 1. Nanoscale particles of the scintillation material are LaCl ₃ : Ce, RbGd ₂ F ₇ : Ce, CeF ₃ , BaF ₂ , BaF ₂ , CsI: Na, CaF ₂ : Eu, LiI: Eu, CsI, CsF, CsI: Tl. 48. The method of claim 46, comprising at least one phosphor having the general formula of NaI: Tl, CdS: In, ZnS, or a combination thereof. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillator material are less than about 100 nm in size. Creating a microemulsion;
Forming nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillation material in the microemulsion;
Isolating the particles from the microemulsion. A method for producing nanoscale particles of a halide scintillation material. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillation material are formed by bubbling a hydrogen halide gas into the microemulsion. Making the microemulsion comprises
Adding a surfactant to an organic solvent to form a surfactant solution;
Dissolving one or more metal salts in an ionic liquid to form an ionic solution;
56. The method of claim 55, comprising mixing a surfactant solution and an ionic solution to form a microemulsion. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of an aromatic ethoxylate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, or alkylphenol. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the organic solvent comprises at least one short chain alkane or arene. The one or more metal salts are selected from the group consisting of lanthanides, Group 1 elements, Group 2 elements, Group 3 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements, and combinations thereof. 56. The method of claim 55, comprising at least one selected metal anion. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the one or more metal salts comprises at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, terbium, thallium, and combinations thereof. The ionic liquid includes at least one cation selected from the group consisting of imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, phosphonium, tetraalkylammonium, sulfonium, and combinations thereof, and alkyl sulfate, tosylate, methanesulfonate, bis ( 56. The method of claim 55, comprising at least one anion selected from the group consisting of (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, halide, and combinations thereof. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material have a general formula of MX _n : Y (wherein M is at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and combinations thereof) X includes at least one halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof; Y includes Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, Eu, and 56. A method according to claim 55, comprising a phosphor having at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of these combinations; n is an integer including 1 to 4. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material has the general formula _{[La (1-x) Ce} x] in _{[Cl (l-y-z} ) Br (y-z) I z] 3 ( wherein, 0 ≦ x ≦ 1; 56. The method of claim 55, comprising a phosphor having 0 ≦ (1-yz) ≦ 1; 0 ≦ z ≦ 1; and 0 ≦ (yz) ≦ 1. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillation material are sized less than about 100 nm. Making a first microemulsion;
Adding a solution comprising one or more metal organic salts to the first microemulsion to form a second microemulsion;
Isolating the nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillation material from the second microemulsion, and producing a nanoscale particle of the halide-based scintillation material. The one or more metal salts are selected from the group consisting of lanthanides, Group 1 elements, Group 2 elements, Group 3 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements, and combinations thereof. 68. The method of claim 66, comprising at least one selected metal anion. Wherein the one or more organometallic salts are at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, terbium, thallium, and combinations thereof, and a general formula OR wherein R is 67. The method of claim 66, wherein the cation is an alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbons. 68. The method of claim 66, wherein the solution comprises an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of short chain alkanes and arenes. Making the first microemulsion comprises:
Adding a surfactant to a second organic solvent to form a surfactant solution;
Dissolving one or more halide salts in an ionic liquid to form an ionic solution;
68. The method of claim 66, comprising mixing the surfactant solution and the ionic liquid to form a microemulsion. 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of an aromatic ethoxylate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, or alkylphenol. 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the second organic solvent comprises at least one short chain alkane or arene. The halide salt is of the general formula NR ₄ Y, wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydride, alkyl, aryl, and halide; Y is fluoride, chloride, bromide 71. The method of claim 70, comprising at least a halide species comprising: an anion selected from the group consisting of:, iodide, and combinations thereof. The first ionic liquid comprises at least one cation selected from the group consisting of imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, phosphonium, tetraalkylammonium, sulfonium, and combinations thereof, alkyl sulfate, tosylate, methanesulfonate 71. The method of claim 70, comprising at least one anion selected from the group consisting of: bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, halide, and combinations thereof. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material have a general formula of MX _n : Y (wherein M is at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and combinations thereof) X includes at least one halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof; Y includes Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, Eu, and 68. The method of claim 66, comprising a phosphor having at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of these combinations; n is an integer including 1 to 4. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material has the general formula _{[La (1-x) Ce} x] in _{[Cl (l-y-z} ) Br (y-z) I z] 3 ( wherein, 0 ≦ x ≦ 1; 67. The method of claim 66, comprising a phosphor having 0 ≦ (1-yz) ≦ 1; 0 ≦ z ≦ 1; and 0 ≦ (yz) ≦ 1. Nanoscale particles of the scintillation material are LaCl ₃ : Ce, RbGd ₂ F ₇ : Ce, CeF ₃ , BaF ₂ , BaF ₂ , CsI: Na, CaF ₂ : Eu, LiI: Eu, CsI, CsF, CsI: Tl. 68. The method of claim 66, comprising at least one phosphor having a general formula of NaI: Tl, CdS: In, ZnS, or a combination thereof. 68. The method of claim 66, wherein the nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillator material are less than about 100 nm in size. Forming a first microemulsion;
Forming a second microemulsion;
Combining the first microemulsion and the second microemulsion to form a composite microemulsion;
Isolating the nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillation material from the combined microemulsion, and producing a nanoscale particle of the halide-based scintillation material. Forming the first microemulsion comprises:
Dissolving a first surfactant in a first organic solvent to form a first surfactant solution;
Dissolving one or more halide salts in a first ionic liquid to form a first solution;
80. The method of claim 79, comprising mixing the first solution and the first surfactant solution to form the first microemulsion. 81. The first surfactant of claim 80, wherein the first surfactant comprises at least one of an aromatic ethoxylate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, or alkylphenol. Method. 81. The method of claim 80, wherein the first organic solvent comprises a short chain alkane or arene. The one or more halide salts have the general formula NR ₄ Y, wherein each R is
Independently selected from the group consisting of hydride, alkyl, aryl, and halide; Y includes an anion selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, and combinations thereof . 81. The method of claim 80, comprising at least a halide species. The first ionic liquid comprises at least one cation selected from the group consisting of imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, phosphonium, tetraalkylammonium, sulfonium, and combinations thereof; and alkyl sulfate, tosylate, methanesulfonate, 81. The method of claim 80, comprising at least one anion selected from the group consisting of bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, halide, and combinations thereof. Forming the second microemulsion comprises:
Adding a second surfactant to a second organic solvent to form a second surfactant solution;
Dissolving one or more metal salts in a second ionic liquid to form a second solution;
80. The method of claim 79, comprising mixing the second solution and the second surfactant solution to form a second microemulsion. 86. The method of claim 85, wherein the second surfactant comprises at least one of an aromatic ethoxylate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester surfactant, or alkylphenol. . 86. The method of claim 85, wherein the second organic solvent comprises a short chain alkane or arene. The one or more metal salts are selected from the group consisting of lanthanides, Group 1 elements, Group 2 elements, Group 3 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements, and combinations thereof. 86. The method of claim 85, comprising at least one selected metal anion. 86. The method of claim 85, wherein the one or more metal salts comprises at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, terbium, thallium, and combinations thereof. The second ionic liquid is at least one cation selected from the group consisting of imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, phosphonium, tetraalkylammonium, sulfonium, and combinations thereof, and alkyl sulfate, tosylate, methanesulfonate 86. The method of claim 85, comprising at least one anion selected from the group consisting of: bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, halide, and combinations thereof. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material have a general formula of MX _n : Y (wherein M is at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and combinations thereof) X includes at least one halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof; Y includes Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, Eu, and 80. The method of claim 79, comprising a phosphor having at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of these combinations; n is an integer including 1 to 4. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material has the general formula _{[La (1-x) Ce} x] in _{[Cl (l-y-z} ) Br (y-z) I z] 3 ( wherein, 0 ≦ x ≦ 1; 80. The method of claim 79, comprising a phosphor having 0 ≦ (1-yz) ≦ 1; 0 ≦ z ≦ 1; and 0 ≦ (yz) ≦ 1. Nanoscale particles of the scintillation material are LaCl ₃ : Ce, RbGd ₂ F ₇ : Ce, CeF ₃ , BaF ₂ , BaF ₂ , CsI: Na, CaF ₂ : Eu, LiI: Eu, CsI, CsF, CsI: Tl. 80. The method of claim 79, comprising at least one phosphor having a general formula of NaI: Tl, CdS: In, ZnS, or a combination thereof. 80. The method of claim 79, wherein the nanoscale particles of the halide-based scintillator material are less than about 100 nm in size. A crystalline scintillator comprising nanoscale particles of metal halide having a size of less than about 100 nm. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material have a general formula of MX _n : Y (wherein M is at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of La, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and combinations thereof) X includes at least one halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, and combinations thereof; Y includes Tl, Tb, Na, Ce, Pr, Eu, and 96. The crystalline scintillator of claim 95, comprising a phosphor having at least one metal ion selected from the group consisting of these combinations; n is an integer including 1 to 4. The nanoscale particles of the scintillation material has the general formula _{[La (1-x) Ce} x] in _{[Cl (l-y-z} ) Br (y-z) I z] 3 ( wherein, 0 ≦ x ≦ 1; 96. The crystalline scintillator of claim 95, comprising a phosphor having 0 ≦ (1-yz) ≦ 1; 0 ≦ z ≦ 1; and 0 ≦ (yz) ≦ 1. Forming a first microemulsion;
Forming a second microemulsion;
Mixing the first and second microemulsions to form a solution;
Isolating precursor particles from the solution;
Forming nanoscale particles of the oxide scintillation material from the precursor particles. A method for producing nanoscale particles of the oxide scintillation material. Forming the first microemulsion comprises:
Forming a metal precursor solution;
Dissolving a first surfactant in a first organic solvent to form a first surfactant solution;
99. The method of claim 98, comprising adding the metal precursor solution to the first surfactant solution. 99. The method of claim 99, wherein the first surfactant comprises an aromatic ethoxylate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, or alkylphenol. 99. The method of claim 99, wherein the first organic solvent comprises a short chain alkane or arene. Forming the metal precursor solution comprises:
Dissolving one or more metal salts in an alcohol to form an alcohol solution;
99. The method of claim 99, comprising dissolving a matrix compound in the alcohol solution. 105. The method of claim 102, wherein forming the metal precursor solution comprises adding an acidic aqueous solution to the alcohol solution. The one or more metal salts include a lanthanoid, a Group 2 metal, a Group 3 metal, a Group 6 metal, a Group 12 metal, a Group 13 metal, a Group 14 metal, a Group 15 metal, and these 105. The method of claim 102, comprising at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of combinations. 105. The method of claim 102, wherein the matrix compound comprises at least one of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), or combinations thereof. The matrix compound is a trialkylaluminum; a metal (tetraalkylaluminum), and the metal is a lanthanoid, a group 2 element, a group 3 element, a group 6 element, a group 12 element, a group 13 element, a group 14 103. comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a group element and at least one anion selected from the group consisting of Group 15 elements; and combinations thereof Method. The matrix compound is selected from the group consisting of Group 2 elements, Group 3 elements, Group 6 elements, Group 12 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements; and combinations thereof 105. The method of claim 102, further comprising at least one element. The one or more metal salts are at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of yttrium, ruthenium, germanium, gadolinium, zinc, lanthanum, cerium, europium, terbium, praseodymium, thallium, and combinations thereof. 103. The method of claim 102, comprising: 105. The method of claim 102, wherein the alcohol comprises a 3 to 10 carbon linear or branched alkyl alcohol. 104. The method of claim 103, wherein the acidic aqueous solution comprises nitric acid or sulfuric acid. Forming the second microemulsion comprises:
Forming a second surfactant solution comprising a second surfactant dissolved in a second organic solvent;
99. Mixing the second surfactant solution and an aqueous base solution to form the second microemulsion. 111. The second surfactant of claim 111, wherein the second surfactant comprises at least one of aromatic ethoxylate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, or alkylphenol. Method. 112. The method of claim 111, wherein the second organic solvent comprises at least one short chain alkane or arene. Wherein the aqueous base comprises _NH 4 OH, The method of claim 111. 99. The method of claim 98, wherein forming nanoscale particles of oxide-based scintillation material from the precursor particles comprises firing the precursor particles. The oxide scintillation material is (Y, Gd) ₂ O ₃ : Eu; Y ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Y ₂ Si ₂ O ₇ : Ce; LuAlO ₃ : Ce; Lu ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Gd ₂ SiO _{5: Ce; YA1O 3: Ce} ; ZnO: Ga; CdWO 4; LuPO 4: Ce; PbWO 4; Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12; CaWO 4; (RE) 3 Al 5 O 12: Ce ( wherein, RE is 99. The method of claim 98, comprising at least one phosphor having the general formula: at least one rare earth metal; or a combination thereof. 99. The method of claim 98, wherein the nanoscale particles of the oxide-based scintillator material are less than about 100 nm in size. Forming an organometallic solution;
Forming a first microemulsion;
Heating the organometallic solution and slowly adding the organometallic solution to the first microemulsion to form a second microemulsion;
Isolating precursor particles from the second microemulsion solution;
Forming nanoscale particles of the oxide scintillation material from the precursor particles. A method for producing nanoscale particles of the oxide scintillation material. Forming the organometallic solution comprises:
Dissolving a matrix compound in a first organic solvent to form an organic solution;
119. Dissolving one or more organometallic salts in the organic solution to form the organometallic solution. 120. The method of claim 119, wherein the matrix compound comprises tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), or combinations thereof. The matrix compound is a trialkylaluminum; a metal (tetraalkylammonium), and the metal is a lanthanoid, a Group 2 element, a Group 3 element, a Group 6 element, a Group 12 element, a Group 13 element, 119, comprising at least one anion selected from the group consisting of Group 14 elements and Group 15 elements; and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of combinations thereof. The method described. The matrix compound is selected from the group consisting of Group 2 elements, Group 3 elements, Group 6 elements, Group 12 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements, and combinations thereof. 120. The method of claim 119, further comprising at least one element. 120. The method of claim 119, wherein the first organic solvent comprises at least one short chain alkane or arene. The one or more organometallic salts include a lanthanoid, a Group 2 element, a Group 3 element, a Group 6 element, a Group 12 element, a Group 13 element, a Group 14 element, a Group 15 element, and these 120. The method of claim 119, comprising at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of: The one or more organometallic salts are at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, terbium, thallium, and combinations thereof, and a general formula OR wherein R is 1 119. The method of claim 119, comprising at least one cation of from 1 to 12 carbon alkyl groups. Forming the first microemulsion comprises:
Dissolving a surfactant in a second organic solvent to form a surfactant solution;
119. Mixing water and the surfactant solution to form the first microemulsion. 127. The method of claim 126, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of an aromatic ethoxylate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, or alkylphenol. 127. The method of claim 126, wherein the second organic solvent comprises at least one short chain alkane or arene. 119. The method of claim 118, wherein forming nanoscale particles of oxide-based scintillation material from the precursor particles comprises firing the precursor particles. The oxide scintillation material is (Y, Gd) ₂ O ₃ : Eu; Y ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Y ₂ Si ₂ O ₇ : Ce; LuAlO ₃ : Ce; Lu ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Gd ₂ SiO _{5: Ce; YA1O 3: Ce} ; ZnO: Ga; CdWO 4; LuPO 4: Ce; PbWO 4; Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12; CaWO 4; Gd 2 O 2 S: Tb; Gd 2 O 2 S: Pr; _{(RE) 3 Al 5 O 12} : Ce (. wherein, RE is at least one rare earth metal) formula; comprises at least one phosphor having a or a combination thereof, according to claim 118 the method of. 119. The method of claim 118, wherein the nanoscale particles of the oxide-based scintillation material are less than about 100 nm in size. Adding an aqueous base solution to an aqueous solution containing one or more metal salts to precipitate a gel containing the one or more metal salts;
Removing free ions from the gel;
Heating the gel;
Drying the gel to form nanoscale particles of the oxyhalide or oxysulfide type scintillation material, and producing nanoscale particles of the oxyhalide or oxysulfide type scintillation material. The one or more metal salts are at least one selected from the group consisting of lanthanides, Group 2 elements, Group 3 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements, and combinations thereof. 135. The method of claim 132, comprising a seed metal anion. 135. The method of claim 132, wherein the one or more metal salts comprises at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, terbium, thallium, gadolinium, europium, and combinations thereof. Wherein the aqueous base comprises _NH 4 OH, The method of claim 132, wherein. 135. The method of claim 132, wherein drying the gel comprises heating the gel in a water saturated atmosphere of an anion source gas. The anion source _{gas, H 2 S, HCl, HBr} , HI or at least one HF, The method of claim 132, wherein. 135. The method of claim 132, wherein the oxyhalide or oxysulfide-based scintillation material comprises a phosphor having the general formula LaO (I, Br, Cl, or F): Tb. 135. The method of claim 132, wherein the oxyhalide or oxysulfide-based scintillation material nanoscale particles are less than about 100 nm in size. Forming a first microemulsion;
Heating the solution while adding the solution to the first microemulsion to form a second microemulsion;
Forming precursor particles from the second emulsion;
Forming nanoscale particles of the oxyhalide or oxysulfide type scintillation material from the precursor particles. A method for producing nanoscale particles of an oxyhalide or oxysulfide type scintillation material. The solution comprises at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of Group 2 elements, Group 3 elements, Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, Group 15 elements, and combinations thereof; 141. The method of claim 140, comprising one or more organometallic salts. The solution comprises at least one metal anion selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, terbium, thallium, and combinations thereof, and a cation selected from the group consisting of -OR, -SR, and combinations thereof. 143. The method of claim 140, comprising one or more organometallic salts comprising ions, wherein R is an alkyl group of 1 to 12 carbons. 141. The method of claim 140, wherein the solution comprises a first organic solvent comprising at least one short chain alkane or arene. Forming the first microemulsion comprises:
Dissolving a surfactant in a second organic solvent to form a surfactant solution;
145. Mixing an aqueous solution of an anion source and the surfactant solution to form the first microemulsion. 145. The method of claim 144, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of an aromatic ethoxylate, polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester surfactant, or alkylphenol. 145. The method of claim 144, wherein the second organic solvent comprises at least one short chain alkane or arene. The anion source _{is, NH 4 I, NH 4 F} , NH 4 Cl, NH 4 Br, thioacetamide, thiourea, and at least compound selected from the group consisting of The method of claim 144, wherein . 141. The method of claim 140, wherein forming nanoscale particles of the oxyhalide type scintillation material from the precursor particles comprises firing the precursor particles. The oxyhalide or oxysulfide type scintillation material has a general formula of LaO (I, Br, Cl, F): Tb, Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Tb, Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Pr, or a combination thereof. 140. The method according to 140, comprising at least one phosphor. 143. The method of claim 140, wherein the nanoscale particles of the oxyhalide or oxysulfide type scintillation material are less than about 100 nm in size. A crystalline scintillation detection material comprising nanoscale particles of a metal oxide phosphor having a size of less than 100 nm. The metal oxide scintillation material is (Y, Gd) ₂ O ₃ : Eu; Y ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Y ₂ Si ₂ O ₇ : Ce; LuAlO ₃ : Ce; Lu ₂ SiO ₅ : Ce; Gd _{2 SiO 5: Ce; YA1O 3:} Ce; ZnO: Ga; CdWO 4; LuPO 4: Ce; PbWO 4; Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12; CaWO 4; (RE) 3 Al 5 O 12: Ce ( wherein, RE 153. The crystalline scintillation detection material of claim 151, comprising at least one phosphor having the general formula: or a combination thereof. A crystalline scintillation detection material comprising nanoscale particles of a metal oxyhalide or metal oxysulfide type material having a size of less than 100 nm. 153, comprising at least one phosphor having the general formula LaO (F, Cl, Br, I): Tb, Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Tb, Gd ₂ O ₂ S: Pr, or a combination thereof. The crystalline scintillation detection material as described.

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