Single-shot X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) dual-mode fusion imaging based on bifunctional NIR scintillators

Peng Ran; Lurong Yang; Juan Hui; Yirong Su; Zeng Chen; Haiming Zhu; Cuifang Kuang; Xu Liu; Yang (Michael) Yang

doi:10.1038/s41377-025-01898-8

Your Location：

Home >

Browse articles >

Single-shot X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) dual-mode fusion imaging based on bifunctional NIR scintillators

Original Articles

- Single-shot X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) dual-mode fusion imaging based on bifunctional NIR scintillators
- Single-shot X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) dual-mode fusion imaging based on bifunctional NIR scintillators
- Light: Science & Applications 2025年14卷第11期页码：3462-3470
- Affiliations：
  
  1.State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
  2.Jiaxing Key Laboratory of Photonic Sensing & Intelligent Imaging, Intelligent Optics & Photonics Research Center, Jiaxing Research Institute of Zhejiang University, 314000 Jiaxing, China
  3.Key Laboratory of Excited State Materials of Zhejiang Province, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, China
- Author bio：
  
  Xu Liu (liuxu@zju.edu.cn)
  Yang (Michael) Yang (yangyang15@zju.edu.cn)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1038/s41377-025-01898-8
  中图分类号：
- 收稿：2025-01-12，
  
  修回：2025-04-27，
  
  录用：2025-05-21，
  
  网络出版：2025-09-11，
  
  纸质出版：2025-11-30
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
Peng Ran, Lurong Yang, Juan Hui, 等. Single-shot X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) dual-mode fusion imaging based on bifunctional NIR scintillators[J]. Light: Science & Applications, 2025,14(11):3462-3470.

Ran, P. et al. Single-shot X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) dual-mode fusion imaging based on bifunctional NIR scintillators. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 3462-3470 (2025).
Peng Ran, Lurong Yang, Juan Hui, 等. Single-shot X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) dual-mode fusion imaging based on bifunctional NIR scintillators[J]. Light: Science & Applications, 2025,14(11):3462-3470. DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-01898-8.

Ran, P. et al. Single-shot X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) dual-mode fusion imaging based on bifunctional NIR scintillators. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 3462-3470 (2025). DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-01898-8.

摘要

Abstract

X-ray and near-infrared (NIR) imaging are two well-established noninvasive imaging techniques

whose fusion often delineates a more complementary view of the subject. In this study

we introduce an innovative dual-mode imaging approach using a NIR scintillator

functioning both as a conventional scintillator for X-ray imaging and as a light source for NIR imaging. Our method facilitates the concurrent acquisition and registration of X-ray and NIR images in a single X-ray shot

eliminating the need for additional hardware beyond that of a standard X-ray imaging system. We have successfully synthesized an ytterbium-doped perovskite NIR scintillator using a water-based scalable process

which exhibits a pronounced scintillation emission at 980 nm

suggesting the presence of a potential quantum cutting effect. The experimental results underscore the enhanced capabilities in visualizing features typically elusive in standard X-ray images

such as the vascular network in a human palm. Besides

our method can effectively separate the X-ray and NIR signals

which is a common issue with recently developed multi-band detectors that suffer from superimposed electrical signals. This separation is achieved by designing a NIR-Visible dual-band scintillator that channels the X-ray and NIR characteristics into distinct emission pathways

thus avoiding any potential interference between the two imaging modalities. This study presents a novel strategy for harnessing the synergistic information from X-ray and NIR photons

enabled by the simple yet effective design of a NIR X-ray scintillator. This advancement might hold the potential to broaden the application scope of conventional X-ray imaging

enhancing its diagnostic and analytical capabilities.

关键词

Keywords

references

Roques-Carmes, C. et al. A framework for scintillation in nanophotonics. Science 375 , eabm9293 (2022)..

Wang, J. X. et al. Heavy-atom engineering of thermally activated delayed fluorophores for high-performance X-ray imaging scintillators. Nat. Photonics 16 , 869–875 (2022)..

Chen, Q. S. et al. All-inorganic perovskite nanocrystal scintillators. Nature 561 , 88–93 (2018)..

Yaffe, M. J. & Rowlands, J. A. X-ray detectors for digital radiography. Phys. Med. Biol. 42 , 1–39 (1997)..

Yakunin, S. et al. Detection of X-ray photons by solution-processed lead halide perovskites. Nat. Photonics 9 , 444–449 (2015)..

Han, K. et al. Seed-crystal-induced cold sintering toward metal halide transparent ceramic scintillators. Adv. Mater. 34 , 2110420 (2022)..

Chen, Y., Wang, S. F. & Zhang, F. Near-infrared luminescence high-contrast in vivo biomedical imaging. Nat. Rev. Bioeng. 1 , 60–78 (2023)..

Liu, G. C. et al. Laser-driven broadband near-infrared light source with watt-level output. Nat. Photonics 18 , 562–568 (2024)..

Gu, Y. Y. et al. High-sensitivity imaging of time-domain near-infrared light transducer. Nat. Photonics 13 , 525–531 (2019)..

Zhang, H. B. et al. Quantitative asses sment of near-infrared fluorescent proteins. Nat. Methods 20 , 1605–1616 (2023)..

Bandi, V. G. et al. Targeted multicolor in vivo imaging over 1000 nm enabled by nonamethine cyanines. Nat. Methods 19 , 353–358 (2022)..

Liu, C. et al. Reversibly photoswitching upconversion nanoparticles for super‐sensitive photoacoustic molecular imaging. Angew. Chem. 134 , e202116802 (2022)..

Yang, Y., Jiang, Q. Y. & Zhang, F. Nanocrystals for deep-tissue in vivo luminescence imaging in the near-infrared region. Chem. Rev. 124 , 554–628 (2024)..

Perego, J. et al. Composite fast scintillators based on high- Z fluorescent metal–organic framework nanocrystals. Nat. Photonics 15 , 393–400 (2021)..

Orfano, M. et al. Efficient radioactive gas detection by scintillating porous metal–organic frameworks. Nat. Photonics 17 , 672–678 (2023)..

Grosenick, D., Wabnitz, H. & Macdonald, R. Diffuse near-infrared imaging of tissue with picosecond time resolution. Biomed. Eng. Biomedizinische Tech. 63 , 511–518 (2018)..

Hong, G. S., Antaris, A. L. & Dai, H. J. Near-infrared fluorophores for biomedical imaging. Nat. Biomed. Eng. 1 , 0010 (2017)..

Liu, X. et al. Ultrabright near-infrared fluorescent DNA frameworks for near-single-cell cancer imaging. Nat. Photonics 19 , 79–88 (2025)..

Ming, J. et al. High-brightness transition metal-sensitized lanthanide near-infrared luminescent nanoparticles. Nat. Photonics 18 , 1254–1262 (2024)..

Liu, Y., Liu, S. P. & Wang, Z. F. A general framework for image fusion based on multi-scale transform and sparse representation. Inf. Fusion 24 , 147–164 (2015)..

Liu, J. et al. Flexible and broadband colloidal quantum dots photodiode array for pixel-level X-ray to near-infrared image fusion. Nat. Commun. 14 , 5352 (2023)..

Xie, L. L. et al. Broadband detection of X‐ray, ultraviolet, and near‐infrared photons using solution‐processed perovskite–lanthanide nanotransducers. Adv. Mater. 33 , 2101852 (2021)..

Sakhatskyi, K. et al. Stable perovskite single-crystal X-ray imaging detectors with single-photon sensitivity. Nat. Photonics 17 , 510–517 (2023)..

Eisner, F. et al. Emissive charge-transfer states at hybrid inorganic/organic heterojunctions enable low non‐radiative recombination and high‐performance photodetectors. Adv. Mater. 34 , 2104654 (2022)..

Büchele, P. et al. X-ray Imaging with scintillator-sensitized hybrid organic photodetectors. Nat. Photonics 9 , 843–848 (2015)..

Jiang, J. Z. et al. Synergistic strain engineering of perovskite single crystals for highly stable and sensitive X-ray detectors with low-bias imaging and monitoring. Nat. Photonics 16 , 575–581 (2022)..

Hou, X. B. et al. Perovskite/GaAs-nanowire hybrid structure photodetectors with ultrafast multiband response enhancement by band engineering. Photonics Res. 11 , 541–548 (2023)..

Wang, P. et al. Arrayed van der waals broadband detectors for dual‐band detection. Adv. Mater. 29 , 1604439 (2017)..

Han, J., Hong, S. & Kang, M. G. Canonical illumination decomposition and its applications. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. Video Technol. 30 , 4158–4170 (2020)..

Zhu, W. J. et al. Low-dose real-time X-ray imaging with nontoxic double perovskite scintillators. Light Sci. Appl. 9 , 112 (2020)..

Huang, H. et al. Ytterbium-doped CsPbCl 3 quantum cutters for near-infrared light-emitting diodes. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 13 , 34561–34571 (2021)..

Mi, Z. H. et al. Real-time single-proton counting with transmissive perovskite nanocrystal scintillators. Nat. Mater. 23 , 803–809 (2024)..

Gandini, M. et al. Efficient, fast and reabsorption-free perovskite nanocrystal-based sensitized plastic scintillators. Nat. Nanotechnol. 15 , 462–468 (2020)..

Zaffalon, M. L. et al. Extreme γ-ray radiation hardness and high scintillation yield in perovskite nanocrystals. Nat. Photonics 16 , 860–868 (2022)..

Shen, X. Y. et al. Near-infrared LEDs based on quantum cutting-activated electroluminescence of yt terbium ions. Nano Lett. 23 , 82–90 (2023)..

Luo, X. et al. Quantum-cutting luminescent solar concentrators using ytterbium-doped perovskite nanocrystals. Nano Lett. 19 , 338–341 (2019)..

Zi, L. et al. X‐ray quantum cutting scintillator based on CsPbCl x Br 3– x : Yb 3+ single crystals. Laser Photonics Rev. 17 , 2200852 (2023)..

Kroupa, D. M. et al. Quantum-cutting ytterbium-doped CsPb(Cl 1– x Br x ) 3 perovskite thin films with photoluminescence quantum yields over 190%. ACS Energy Lett. 3 , 2390–2395 (2018)..

Li, X. M. et al. Are inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals promising scintillators? ACS Energy Lett. 8 , 2996–3004 (2023)..

Milstein, T. J., Kroupa, D. M. & Gamelin, D. R. Picosecond quantum cutting generates photoluminescence quantum yields over 100% in ytterbium-doped CsPbCl 3 nanocrystals. Nano Lett. 18 , 3792–3799 (2018)..

Mykhaylyk, V. B. et al. Ultra-fast low temp erature scintillation and X-ray luminescence of CsPbCl 3 crystals. J. Mater. Chem. C 11 , 656–665 (2023)..

Li, Z. H. et al. Optoelectronic properties and ultrafast carrier dynamics of copper iodide thin films. Nat. Commun. 13 , 6346 (2022)..

Graziotto, M. E. et al. Towards multimodal cellular imaging: optical and X-ray fluorescence. Chem. Soc. Rev. 52 , 8295–8318 (2023)..

Matoba, O. et al. Multimodal imaging based on digital holography. Proc. IEEE 105 , 906–923 (2017)..

Luo, L. et al. Conjugation of a scintillator complex and gold nanorods for dual-modal image-guided photothermal and X-ray-induced photodynamic therapy of tumors. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 12 , 12591–12599 (2020)..

Ma, J. Y., Ma, Y. & Li, C. Infrared and visible image fusion methods and applications: a survey. Inf. Fusion 45 , 153–178 (2019)..

Zhang, X. C. & Demiris, Y. Visible and infrared image fusion using deep learning. IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 45 , 10535–10554 (2023)..

Zhao, B. D. et al. Light management for perovskite light-emitting diodes. Nat. Nanotechnol. 18 , 981–992 (2023)..

Alexandre, M. et al. Light management with quantum nanostructured dots-in-host semiconductors. Light Sci. Appl. 10 , 231 (2021)..

Xu, X. W. et al. Light management of metal halide scintillators for high‐resolution X‐ray imaging. Adv. Mater. 36 , 2303738 (2024)..

浏览量

Downloads

CSCD

文章被引用时，请邮件提醒。

Submit

工具集

关联资源

暂无数据