Investigation of the imaging characteristics of the Gd2O3:Eu nanophosphor for high-resolution digital X-ray imaging system

For possible applications in high-resolution medical image systems, we manufactured a Eu3+-doped Gd2O3 nanophosphor using the low-temperature solution combustion method, and evaluated its performance as an image sensor. The structural and optical characteristics of the fabricated nanophosphor were investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectrum (PL), and luminescence decay time measurements. From the FE-SEM and XRD results, we established that the fabricated nanophosphor was formed of spherical particles of about 30-40 nm, and confirmed that the particles agglomerated as the sintering temperature increases. From PL spectra, a strong peak appeared near 611 nm, and the luminescent intensity was seen to be affected by the doping concentration of Eu. Gd2O3:Eu nanophosphor particles have shown the highest luminescent efficiency at a Eu concentration of 5 wt%. In the luminescent decay time measurements, the mean decay time was about 2.3-2.6 ms, about two times longer than that of the general bulk phosphor, and affected by the of Eu-doping concentration. For the investigation of the imaging characteristics of the fabricated nanophosphor, we connected the Gd2O3:Eu nanophosphor film to a commercial CMOS image sensor, obtained the X-ray images and evaluated the modulation transfer function (MTF) as a function of the Eu concentration. We were able to obtain high-resolution X-ray images and found that the Eu concentration also influenced the imaging characteristics.