Development of the ZnO:Ga microrods - epoxy composite as a scintillation screen for ultrafast X-ray detection

In order to satisfy the requirements of ultrafast and hard X-ray detection and imaging in the existing and upcoming experimental facilities for high energy physics, the ZnO:Ga microrods - epoxy (ZnO:Ga-EP) composite were successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal and polymerization method. Under X-ray excitation, the ZnO:Ga-EP composite exhibits a narrow and intense near-band-edge emission located at 390 nm. More importantly, the decay time of the near-band-edge emission can reach up to subnanosecond (<1 ns), which is extremely significant for ultrafast X-ray detection and imaging. In addition, there exist an energy transfer from the epoxy host to the ZnO:Ga microrods in the ZnO:Ga-EP composite. In conclusion, this work indicates the ZnO:Ga-EP composite can be used as a potential ultrafast X-ray scintillation screen for applications in ultrafast and hard X-ray detectors.