Low dimensional scintillating structures for biomedical applications

We will design, fabricate and optimize low-dimensional scintillating structures pursued by current trends in biomedical field. The research will focus on two types of structures. First type represents heterostructures based on ultrafast scintillating nanoparticles, such as ZnO or lead halide perovskites, with high potential to provide fast timing in detection systems of advanced positron emission tomographs (PETs). Such novel detection systems are ultimately directed towards high-image quality and reconstructionless PET. Regarding the fast timing requirement, particularly the speed of scintillation response and scintillation yield will be monitored and optimized. Second type of structures is oriented to biocompatible smart multifunctional nanocomposites. These will be based on highly scintillating core coated by amorphous shell. Surface engineering of additional outer shell will provide different, even combined functionalities, in particular smart delivery, cancer therapy, bioimaging and radiodiagnostics.