Growth and Scintillation Properties of Ce:Li6Lu(10BO3)3 Crystal

doi:10.15541/jim20150080

Abstract

Abstract:

To improve the neutron detection efficiency, Ce:Li₆Lu(¹⁰BO₃)₃ crystal was grown by Czochralski method from the raw materials enriched with ¹⁰B isotopes. The X-ray excited luminescence of Ce:Li₆Lu(¹⁰BO₃)₃ crystal presents an emission band from 360 nm to 480 nm corresponding to 5d - 4f transitions of Ce³⁺ ions. The scintillation efficiency of Ce:Li₆Lu (¹⁰BO₃)₃ crystal was 3.9 times as large as that of BGO crystal, and the photoluminescence decay time excited by 350 nm and scintillation decay time excited by ¹³⁷Cs γ-ray source were 21.0 ns and 31.7 ns, respectively. The relative light output of Ce:Li₆Lu(¹⁰BO₃)₃ crystal excited with 662 keV γ-ray from ¹³⁷Cs was 20% that of CsI(Tl) crystal and the energy resolution was measured to be 9.7%. In the neutron energy spectrum excited by moderated²⁵²Cf neutron source, the obvious full energy peak of neutron was observed and the energy resolution was 33%. With the relatively high scintillation efficiency, fast decay time and good neutron detection efficiency, Ce:Li₆Lu(¹⁰BO₃)₃crystal is a promising fast scintillator for neutron detection applications.

Key words: Ce:Li6Lu(10BO3)3 crystal, neutron detection, Czochralski method, scintillation crystal

CLC Number:

O734

LIU Wei, PAN Shang-Ke, LI Huan-Ying, JIANG Yong, CHEN Xiao-Feng, REN Guo-Hao. Growth and Scintillation Properties of Ce:Li₆Lu(¹⁰BO₃)₃ Crystal[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2015, 30(8): 809-813.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Photo of Ce:Li6Lu(10BO3)3 crystal

Fig. 2 XRD patterns of Ce:Li6Lu(10BO3)3 powder

Fig. 3 X-ray excited luminescence spectra of Li6Lu(10BO3)3 and BGO crystal Inset is the integrated intensity of the emission band

Fig. 4 UV-Vis excitation and emission spectra of the Ce:Li6 Lu(10BO3)3 crystal

Fig. 5 Photoluminescence decay curves and the fitted result of Ce:Li6Lu(10BO3)3 scintillators excited by 350 nm

Fig. 6 Decay curve of Ce:Li6Lu(10BO3)3 crystal and the fitted result

Fig. 7 Multi-channel energy spectra of Ce:Li6Lu(10BO3)3 crystal and CsI(Tl) crystal excited by 137Cs

Fig. 8 Multi-channel energy spectrum of Ce:Li6Lu(10BO3)3 crystal with Cd and without Cd excited by neutron source

References 12

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Growth and Scintillation Properties of Ce:Li₆Lu(¹⁰BO₃)₃ Crystal

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