Our phosphor viewing screens can be designed to the exact requirements of your application, by combining the constituents listed below. Moreover, Scintacor has extensive expertise in bonding fibre optic scintillators (FOS) and phosphor viewing screens to CMOS and CCD cameras. Scintacor can provide a turn-key solution, by managing your supply chain and by bonding your sensor and scintillator together in a class 1000 clean-room environment.
Other custom screens are available upon request. We can create screens from 10µm to over 1mm thick with a range of phosphors, mounted on various substrates. The size of the substrate typically ranges from 10mm to 150mm square or equivalent circle diameter although special shapes such as prisms and tapers can also be processed.
For direct phosphor coating on CMOS and CCD linear arrays / area sensors, please refer to our product page here.
Dielectric substrates, such as float glass or fibre optic faceplates (FOPs), can be ITO-coated for electrical connection of the screen to the instrument. As an indication, sheet resistances of less than 200 ohm/sq can be readily achieved with ITO-coating.
We routinely work with P22, P22G, P24, P43, P46, P47 but a wider range of phosphors is available on request. Coating thicknesses for SEM/TEM and MS applications would typically vary from 3µm to 100µm, but Scintacor has the expertise to coat phosphor layers to over 500µm thickness if requested. The average particle size of the phosphor may range from 1.5µm, for high-resolution screens, to 25µm for applications where high brightness and efficiency are paramount.
Phosphor viewing screens are usually irreversibly damaged even by a slight finger touch. However, a process based on potassium silicate, sometimes referred to as “waterglass”, can be provided on request for applications requiring higher mechanical stability. This potassium silicate process produces coatings which can withstand a light touch by hand.
If required, this can be added to reduce stray-light and to channel all of the photons generated in the phosphor layer towards the detector. Typically, a 50-100nm aluminium over-layer requires a 3kV minimum acceleration voltage for electrons to pass through. The aluminium layer serves also as a conductive coating for charge dissipation.
Our bonding process can utilise fibre optic plates (FOPs) from 1.5 to 100mm thick. In-house bonding jig design can produce single sensor products or multiple sensor arrays. Our proprietary process reduces the risk of trapped bubbles and particles within the glue line. Scintacor can also advise on the type of epoxy to be used to meet optical and operational requirements of your application.
Scintacor has been manufacturing phosphor viewing screens for electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) and mass spectrometry (MS) applications for over 20 years and has arguably one of the largest installed base for these critical components. The superior performance of Scintacor phosphor viewing screens and scintillator is not accidental, but hinges on the following factors.
First is the exclusive use of high quality raw materials. Over the years we have selected the most suitable phosphor for each application. By working collaboratively with a few selected suppliers, we can assure these high quality standards for our raw materials are constantly met, batch after batch.
Second is our willingness to delve deeper into each application and understand which requirements are most critical to you. These might include resolution, efficiency, or afterglow. Each new project would normally start with a teleconference with our product manager and material scientist, to discuss your needs and agree milestones and deliverables. Deliverables would typically include one or two runs of samples. Throughout the entire qualification process, customers will be constantly informed of the progress made and every set of samples will be accompanied by a detailed report allowing you to take informed decisions on the next steps. Of course, the confidentiality of customer data is paramount for Scintacor at all times and can be covered by NDA where applicable.
Last, but not least, is the repeatability of our coating processes, which are run to the higher standards by experienced technicians, in a class 10,000 clean-room environment. We always welcome the visit of our customers, so that you get a first-hand experience of the professionalism and enthusiasm of our team.
