Scintillating nanocomposites

1. A method for producing a scintillator nanocomposite, the method comprising:

introducing nanoparticles into a first dispersing medium to form a stable suspension, wherein the first dispersing medium is a precursor for a first matrix material; and

curing the first dispersing medium to form the first matrix material,

wherein the scintillator nanocomposite comprises the nanoparticles with scintillating properties and a diameter between 10 and 50 nanometer and the first matrix material.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are garnet nanoparticles.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first matrix material is a polymeric material.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dispersing medium is a glycol.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a second dispersing medium is mixed with the first dispersing medium prior to introducing the nanoparticles or to the stable suspension, wherein the second dispersing medium is a precursor for a second matrix material.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the second matrix material is a polymeric material, preferably a polymeric material selected from the group of polyurethane, polyester, such as polybutylene terephthalate, unsaturated polyester resin, aromatic polyamide, aromatic polyimide, polystyrene or polysulfone.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the curing results in a co-polymer of the first matrix material and the second matrix material.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the curing is performed at elevated temperature, and/or at elevated pressure greater than 20 bar, and/or for at least 24 hours.

9. A scintillator nanocomposite comprising:

nanoparticles with scintillating properties and a diameter between 10 and 50 nanometer; and

a first matrix material; and

wherein the nanoparticles are introduced into a first dispersing medium to form a stable suspension; and

wherein the first matrix material is formed by curing the first dispersing medium.

10. The scintillator nanocomposite according to claim 9 , wherein the first matrix material is polyurethane.

11. A product comprising the scintillator nanocomposite according to claim 9 .

12. A method to produce a transparent scintillator comprising:

melting a nanocomposite obtained with a method comprising introducing the nanoparticles into a first dispersing medium to form a stable suspension, wherein the first dispersing medium is a precursor for the first matrix material;

curing the first dispersing medium to form the first matrix material; and

injection molding the molten nanocomposite; and

wherein the scintillator nanocomposite comprises the nanoparticles with scintillating properties and a diameter between 10 and 50 nanometer and the first matrix material.

13. A transparent scintillator obtainable by the method according to claim 12 .

14. A radiation detector comprising the transparent scintillator according to claim 13 .

15. An imaging system comprising the radiation detector according to claim 14 .

16. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the nanoparticles are Cerium-doped nanoparticles.

17. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the nanoparticles are chosen from the group of Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce nanoparticles, (Lu,Gd) 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce nanoparticles or (LGGAG:Ce) nanoparticles.

18. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a polymeric material selected from the group of polyurethane, polyester, polybutylene terephthalate, unsaturated polyester resin, aromatic polyamide, aromatic polyimide, polystyrene or polysulfone.

19. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the glycol comprises a 1, 4 butanediol.

20. The method according to claim 8 ,

wherein the elevated temperature is between 220 degrees Celsius and 250 degrees Celsius; and/or

wherein the elevated pressure is about 40 bar.