Alkaline earth metal fluorobromoiodide storage phosphor, and radiation image storage panel, and method

A radiographic image storage panel comprising a support and a fluorescent layer including phosphor crystals capable of absorbing X-radiation and emitting longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation in response to stimulating radiation of a third wavelength, said phosphor crystals consisting essentially of the product of firing, at a temperature from about 700.degree. to 1300.degree. C.:

• (1) a combination of species characterized by the relationship:
• (Ba.sub.1-a-b-c Mg.sub.a Ca.sub.b Sr.sub.c)FBr.sub.1-z I.sub.z. rKX:yA:eQ:tD
• wherein
• X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, and I;
• A is selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Sm, and Tb;
• Q is selected from the group consisting of BeO, MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, ZnO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, In.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, GeO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2, Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, and ThO.sub.2 ;
• D is selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni;
• a+b+c is from 0 to 0.4;
• z is from 1.times.10.sup.-4 to 1;
• r is from 10.sup.-6 to 0.1;
• y is from 1.times.10.sup.-4 to 0.1;
• e is from 10.sup.-5 to 0.1;
• and
• t is from 0 to 10.sup.-2, and
• (2) an oxosulfur reducing agent, said oxosulfur reducing agent being present with said combination of species in an amount sufficient to increase relative photostimulated luminescence intensities relative to the phosphor defined above absent said reducing agent for iodine.

A radiation image recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:

• exposing a storage phosphor to reflected or transmitted radiation from an object;
• exposing said stimulable phosphor to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within the range of 450-800 nanometers to release the radiant energy stored therein as light emission, and
• detecting the emitted light;
• said storage phosphor consisting essentially of the product of firing, at a temperature from about 700.degree. to 1300.degree. C.:
• (1) a combination of species characterized by the relationship:
• (Ba.sub.1-a-b-c Mg.sub.a Ca.sub.b Sr.sub.c)FBr.sub.1-z I.sub.z.rKX:yA:eQ:tD
• wherein
• X is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, and I;
• A is selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Sm, and Tb;
• Q is selected from the group consisting of BeO, MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, ZnO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, In.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, GeO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2, Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, and ThO.sub.2 ;
• D is selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni;
• c is from about 0 to 0.4;
• a+b+c is from about 0 to 0.4;
• z is from 1.times.10.sup.-4 to 1;
• r is from 10.sup.-6 to 0.1;
• y is from 1.times.10.sup.-4 to 0.1;
• e is from 10.sup.-5 to 0.1;
• and
• t is from 0 to 10.sup.-2 ;
• and
• (2) an oxosulfur reducing agent, said oxosulfur reducing agent being present with said combination of species in an amount sufficient to increase relative photostimulated luminescence intensities relative to the phosphor defined above absent said reducing agent for iodine.