Sn²⁺/Pb²⁺ Doping‐Induced Highly Transparent Boroaluminate Microcrystalline Glass With Deep Traps for Long‐Term Optical Storage and Time‐Lapse X‐ray Imaging

Abstract The development of microcrystalline glass‐ceramics with high transparency and deep trap energy levels is crucial for the cost‐effective and large‐scale production of scintillators and optical data storage applications. In this study, the incorporation of highly electronegative divalent tin (Sn²⁺) plays a key role in modulating the network structure of borate glass. This leads to the successful synthesis of SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ microcrystalline glass with high transparency, reaching up to 80%, and excellent crystallinity. Additionally, a series of non‐optically active ions with different valence states is co‐doped with Eu²⁺ to fine‐tune the trap levels of the SrAl₂O₄ microcrystals. All samples maintain high crystallinity and exhibit good transparency. In particular, the Pb²⁺ ion co‐doped samples achieve an increased trap energy level of 1.28 eV, significantly enhancing their capacity to capture X‐rays and ultraviolet light. Density functional theory calculations reveal that this enhancement is due to severe lattice distortion caused by Pb²⁺ ions occupying interstitial sites in SrAl₂O₄. Utilizing the SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Pb²⁺ glass‐ceramics materials, X‐ray imaging with a delay of up to 210 s and optical information storage for >60 d is achieved. This study provides valuable insights into the crystal growth and trap modulation of persistent luminescent materials within a three‐dimensional glass network structure.