Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Ball-milling synthesis yields (C22H22O2P)2MnBr4 with PLQY up to 96.1% and green emission at 520 nm, enabling cost-effective, scalable production for display applications. • • WLED device achieves wide color gamut of 113% NTSC, surpassing commercial displays (typically ~100% NTSC), indicating superior color performance for next-generation displays. • • Scintillation screen shows relative light yield of 70546 photons MeV−1, detection limit of 33.8 nGy air s−1 (below standard medical imaging dose), and spatial resolution of 12.36 lp mm−1, enabling high-quality X-ray imaging. • • Integration with TFT backplane successfully demonstrates simulated dental caries imaging, validating practical feasibility for medical diagnostics.
Abstract
Organic-inorganic hybrid Mn(II) halides have attracted considerable attention for optoelectronic applications due to their environmental friendliness and high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) originating from the d-d transition (4T1(G) → 6A1) of Mn2+. However, complex synthesis processes restrict their potential for low-cost, large-scale production. In this study, the Mn(II) halide (C22H22O2P)2MnBr4 was synthesized via a simple and efficient mechanochemical ball-milling approach, achieving high photoluminescence efficiency and production yield. The halide exhibits intense green emission centered at 520 nm with a PLQY of up to 96.1%. Combined experimental and theoretical characterizations confirm that the strong light emission originates from the synergistic interaction between organic cations and inorganic framework components. A white light-emitting diode (WLED) device based on (C22H22O2P)2MnBr4 was fabricated, exhibiting bright white light emission and a wide color gamut of 113% NTSC. Furthermore, a scintillation screen based on (C22H22O2P)2MnBr4 was fabricated and utilized to investigate internal structures of various objects. The screen demonstrates a high relative light yield of 70546 photons MeV−1, a low detection limit of 33.8 nGy air s−1, and a spatial resolution of up to 12.36 lp mm−1. Finally, by integrating the scintillation screen with a thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane, the resulting X-ray detector successfully enables simulated medical imaging of dental caries. This work establishes a robust foundation for large-scale synthesis of highly efficient luminescent Mn(II) halides and highlights their potential in multifunctional light-emitting applications.
1. Introduction
Commercial X-ray scintillators such as CsI:Tl, BGO, and LuAG:Ce suffer from complex fabrication, high cost, low light yield, and hygroscopicity, limiting their deployment in advanced imaging systems. Lead-based perovskites offer high performance but face toxicity and stability issues, hindering practical use. The development of eco-friendly, stable, and cost-effective scintillators is critical.
This work addresses these bottlenecks by employing a facile ball-milling method to synthesize (C22H22O2P)2MnBr4, a lead-free Mn(II) halide with exceptional PLQY and scintillation performance. The method eliminates complex solution processing, enabling scalable production. The material's high light yield and low detection limit meet clinical requirements, while its integration with TFT backplanes demonstrates a clear path toward practical X-ray imaging devices.
Loading authentic research manuscript (Pages 1–5)...
Haixing Meng, Ying Li, Minqi Zhu, Yancheng Chen, Guozhen Shen (2026). Facile Ball-Milling Synthesis of Highly Efficient Manganese Halides Toward White Light-Emitting Display and X-Ray Imaging. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3886-1
Research & Educational Purpose Only: The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoGreenTechare intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Notice: Original copyright of the underlying source articles and experimental data remains with the respective authors, institutions, and original publishing journals. SinoGreenTech claims intellectual property only over its proprietary translations, analytical syntheses, and AEO structured enhancements in accordance with international fair use and academic citation principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the production yield of the ball-milling synthesis, and how does it compare to conventional solution methods?
The paper reports high production yield, though exact percentage is not specified. The method is described as simple and efficient, suggesting near-quantitative yields typical for mechanochemical synthesis, which avoids solvent waste and multiple steps, offering significant cost and scalability advantages.
How does the PLQY of 96.1% translate to external quantum efficiency (EQE) in a WLED device, and what is the device's operational stability?
The paper does not provide EQE or stability data. However, a PLQY of 96.1% is near-unity, indicating minimal non-radiative losses. The WLED exhibits a wide color gamut of 113% NTSC, but long-term operational stability under continuous current or humidity remains unaddressed, which is critical for commercialization.
What is the mechanism behind the high light yield and low detection limit in the scintillator?
The high light yield (70546 photons MeV−1) is attributed to the efficient energy transfer from the organic cations to the Mn2+ centers, as confirmed by combined experimental and theoretical characterizations. The low detection limit (33.8 nGy air s−1) is enabled by the high light yield and low noise, allowing detection at doses below standard medical imaging levels.
How does the spatial resolution of 12.36 lp mm−1 compare to commercial scintillators, and what factors limit it?
The spatial resolution of 12.36 lp mm−1 is competitive with or superior to many commercial scintillators (e.g., CsI:Tl typically ~10 lp mm−1). The resolution is limited by the screen thickness and pixel size of the TFT backplane. The paper demonstrates its capability in dental imaging, but further optimization of screen morphology could enhance resolution.
What are the environmental and cost benefits of using ball-milling compared to traditional crystal growth methods?
Ball-milling is a solvent-free, solid-state process that reduces chemical waste and energy consumption. It enables large-scale production with minimal equipment, lowering manufacturing costs. The use of earth-abundant manganese and organic ligands further enhances sustainability, making it a viable alternative to lead-based perovskites.
Related Chinese Research & Cross-Citations
Ammonium Vanadate Cathodes in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Design Strategies and Research Progress
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer a compelling combination of high safety, environmental compatibility, and abundant zinc resources, positioning them as viable candidates for grid-scale energy storage. Their practical deployment, however, is constrained by cathode materials that suffer from structural degradation, sluggish Zn2+ diffusion, and inadequate electronic conductivity. Ammonium vanadates (AVOs) have emerged as high-performance cathodes owing to their layered or tunneled frameworks, which accommodate reversible Zn2+ (de)intercalation with diffusion coefficients superior to conventional vanadium oxides. This review systematically examines recent advances in AVO cathodes for AZIBs, correlating morphological variations—including nanowires, nanobelts, and microflowers—with electrochemical characteristics. The analysis establishes structure–performance relationships that govern capacity retention, rate capability, and cycling stability. Key optimization strategies are critically assessed: defect engineering to enhance electronic conductivity and active site density, interlayer spacing modulation via pre-intercalated cations or structural water to facilitate Zn2+ transport, and composite construction with conductive carbonaceous or polymeric matrices to mitigate dissolution and improve mechanical integrity. Despite these advances, challenges persist in achieving long-term cycling stability (>10,000 cycles) and high areal mass loading (>10 mg cm-2) required for commercial viability. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including operando characterization of degradation mechanisms and scalable synthesis routes for AVO cathodes in practical AZIB configurations.
Microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platforms: Innovations for spinal cord injury repair
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a formidable clinical challenge due to the complex, dynamic lesion microenvironment that impedes axonal regeneration and functional recovery. This highlight examines a microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platform integrating microneedle delivery, ferroptosis modulation, and hydrogen therapy. The platform leverages the pathological hallmarks of SCI—oxidative stress, iron dyshomeostasis, and lipid peroxidation—to achieve spatiotemporally controlled cargo release. By combining microneedle arrays for minimally invasive intraparenchymal administration with hydrogen-releasing biomaterials, the system addresses the dual bottlenecks of poor drug penetration across the blood-spinal cord barrier and insufficient neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis inhibition is achieved through iron chelation and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) stabilization, while hydrogen gas scavenges hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. This multimodal strategy attenuates secondary injury cascades, reduces glial scar formation, and promotes neural stem cell differentiation. The work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82574518) and the Talent Cultivation Project of Paring Academicians with Young Talents in higher education institutions in Zhejiang. The authors declare no conflict of interest. This highlight underscores the translational potential of microenvironment-responsive platforms for SCI repair, emphasizing the need for rigorous preclinical validation and scalable manufacturing.
Dual-Site Adsorption over Phosphorus-Doped Copper Oxide for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to Ethylene
Electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene offers a promising route for renewable electricity storage, yet achieving high ethylene selectivity at industrial current densities remains challenging due to the large energy barrier for C–C coupling. Here, we report a “MOF-assisted in situ doping” strategy to introduce the oxophilic nonmetal phosphorus (P) into the copper oxide (CuO) lattice, constructing a localized Cu–P dual-site adsorption configuration for the key *OCCHO intermediate. The optimized catalyst delivers an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 64.6% for ethylene with a partial current density of 646 mA cm-2. Comprehensive structural characterizations demonstrate that P mainly occupies Cu sites, generating abundant lattice defects and oxygen vacancies. In situ synchrotron infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that P doping modulates the electronic structure of Cu, optimizes the binding energies of *CO and *CHO, and stabilizes *OCCHO via P–O/Cu–C dual-site adsorption, thereby significantly lowering the asymmetric C-C coupling energy barrier to 0.74 eV. This work highlights a dual-site microenvironment regulation strategy for CO2-to-ethylene electroreduction.
Hydrophilic Single-Atom Interface Unlocks Low-Potential CO Removal on Pt in PEMFCs
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fed with reformate hydrogen suffer severe anode poisoning by trace CO, necessitating high CO electrooxidation potentials that degrade performance and durability. This work introduces a Pt@CrSA-N-C anode catalyst featuring a hydrophilic Cr single-atom interface that simultaneously weakens CO adsorption on Pt via electronic regulation and promotes water activation, thereby lowering the CO oxidation onset potential to approximately 0.13 V vs. RHE. The onset potential was determined by two independent methods: the first potential at which the background-corrected current exceeds 0 mA cm-2 during CO oxidation reaction tests in a three-electrode system, and the potential at which the forward scan current exceeds the N2 background current in CO-stripping voltammetry. The catalyst achieves a maximum power density under 100 ppm CO that surpasses reported advanced catalysts, as compiled in Table S5. Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterizations collectively establish a coherent rationale for the hydrophilic single-atom interface strategy. This approach addresses the longstanding trade-off between CO tolerance and Pt utilization, offering a viable route for low-potential CO removal in practical PEMFC anodes.
An Ionoelastomer-Based Bioinspired Wearable Electronics with Tele-Perception and Tactile Sensation for Machine Learning-Assisted Rehabilitation Management
Comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation efficiency is essential for designing appropriate training programs for better musculoskeletal functional recovery. Existing contact-receptor-dependent rehabilitation assessment systems mostly focus on assessing the restoration of muscle function by evaluating grip strength or joint flexion angle; however, parameters reflecting neuromuscular synergistic function are always overlooked. Herein, we develop an ionoelastomer-based soft artificial electroreceptor (SAER) that integrates tele-perception and tactile sensation to track the rehabilitation process, collecting signals related to approaching speed and grip strength sequentially. The SAER uses polyurethane ionoelastomer incorporated with quasi-solid conductive salt as the electric field receptor, and is integrated on a rehabilitation-training ball after assembly to establish an untethered detection device; this enables the remote capture of hand approaching parameter within a 9 cm range, followed by the quantification of grip strength when contacting and grasping. Furthermore, a data-driven assessment system is established by integrating machine learning, which accurately classifies rehabilitation efficiency into six levels; it supports for rehabilitation evaluation and training programs adjustment. Overall, the SAER-based rehabilitation management system establishes a paradigm that synergistically evaluating parameters corresponding to neuromuscular functional restoration and holds strong potential for home-based active rehabilitation for minimizing dependence on frequent clinical supervision.
Microwave-Absorbing Materials with Strong Environmental Adaptability for Corrosion Protection, Anti-Icing, and Thermal Management
Microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs) deployed on naval vessels, aerospace vehicles, and critical electronic systems face coupled electromagnetic, marine salt-spray corrosion, and extreme-temperature loads that legacy single-function absorbers cannot withstand. This review consolidates progress on three environmentally adaptive MAM classes: corrosion-protective, anti-icing, and thermal-management absorbers. The electromagnetic loss and impedance-matching fundamentals are first established, then the synergistic mechanisms, design strategies, and characterization protocols for each class are examined against representative material systems and their measured performance. The analysis identifies a shared design logic—multiscale hierarchical architecture, interfacial polarization engineering, and multifunctional phase integration—while distinguishing the divergent protection mechanisms: barrier and passivation effects for corrosion, surface-energy and latent-heat regulation for anti-icing, and phonon–electron transport decoupling for thermal management. Persistent bottlenecks include the trade-off between impedance matching and protective-layer density, the absence of standardized coupled-field test protocols, and the scarcity of long-term salt-spray and thermal-cycling durability data. Future directions are delineated: intelligent self-adaptive absorbers, multiphysics-coupled simulation frameworks, and environmentally benign multifunctional integration. The review provides a theoretical and technical basis for the design, construction, and engineering scale-up of next-generation high-performance absorbers for aerospace, electronic, and marine equipment.