Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive comparison of image quality between synchrotron-based and laboratory-based nano-computed tomography (nano-CT) systems, using a standardized 3D test phantom composed of monodisperse silica spheres. A round-robin approach was employed across multiple international facilities to benchmark performance across various imaging modalities and setups, including absorption and phase contrast techniques. Image quality was quantitatively assessed using three-dimensional signal-to-noise ratio (SNR(3D)), detection effectiveness (DE(3D)) and modulation transfer function (MTF(3D)) metrics. The results reveal that, while synchrotron-based nano-CT consistently delivers superior spatial resolution and shorter scan times, laboratory-based systems demonstrate competitive image quality at the cost of extended acquisition durations. Beyond the experimental comparison, the main contribution of this work is a standardized, open-source analysis framework that quantifies nano-CT image quality using SNR(3D), DE(3D) and MTF(3D) of a specific phantom. This combination of metrics provides a reproducible basis for cross-platform benchmarking of synchrotron and laboratory nano-CT implementations and can be readily applied to future instruments.