Europium‐doped barium chloride storage phosphor plate synthesized by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract

AbstractIn computed radiography, scattering of the stimulation light by the storage phosphor crystals in the imaging plates negatively impacts spatial resolution. Storage phosphor plates with thinner phosphor layers have been developed to reduce scattering distance and increase spatial resolution, although at the expense of reduced x‐ray absorption. The authors hypothesize that a transparent or translucent nanostructured film, containing a much higher percentage of storage phosphor crystals than achievable in bulk glass‐ceramic materials made by conventional methods, may have acceptable photostimulated luminescence efficiency and imaging performance characteristics greater than commercial imaging plates. Films were produced via pulsed laser deposition by alternating target materials of the storage phosphor BaCl2:Eu2+ and either silica or silicon. X‐ray diffraction and photoluminescence characterization were conducted to confirm the presence of BaCl2:Eu2+ crystallites. The films were able to store optical data and be read out to produce x‐ray radiographs demonstrating 50‐µm spatial resolution. The performance of the experimental storage phosphor plates was compared to commercially available imaging plates. The authors demonstrate for the first time the synthesis of a glass‐ceramic imaging plate for computed radiography by pulsed laser deposition.