Triplet-triplet energy-transfer-based transparent X-ray imaging scintillators

In this work, we fabricated a highly efficient and reabsorption-free transparent X-ray imaging scintillator with high performance using an efficient triplet-triplet energy transfer strategy between thermally activated delayed fluorophore (TADF-Br) and iridium organometallic complex (Ir-OMC). Steady-state and ultrafast time-resolved experiments—supported by high-level density functional theory calculations—clearly demonstrate that efficient triplet-triplet energy transfer from TADF-Br with a high X-ray absorption cross-section to emissive Ir-OMC can be achieved. Such high efficiency of interfacial triplet energy transfer and the heavy atoms in both the donor and acceptor led to a remarkable enhancement in triplet-state radioluminescence upon X-ray irradiation. The fabricated X-ray imaging scintillator achieved an X-ray imaging resolution of 19.8 lp mm⁻¹, exceeding the resolution of most reported organic and organometallic scintillation screens.