X-ray detection properties of Bi-loaded plastic scintillators synthesized via solvent evaporation

Bi-loaded plastic scintillators were successfully synthesized using the solvent evaporation method and were used as detectors for synchrotron X-ray radiation. The photoluminescence emission spectra and X-ray-excited radioluminescence spectra of all prepared plastic scintillators presented broad emission bands in the range of 350–500 nm, which derived from the fluorescence of the organic phosphor, 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-5-(4-biphenylyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole. The detection efficiency of 1 mm thick plastic scintillators for high-energy X-ray photons was increased by the addition of Bi compounds (up to 2.3 wt%) and reached 67% of that of EJ-256, the commercially available Pb 5 wt% loaded plastic scintillator. Subnanosecond time resolution was successfully achieved for all scintillators.