Crystal growth, luminescence, and scintillation properties of Er-doped La2Hf2O7 single crystal

Abstract

The growth of Er-doped La2Hf2O7 (LHO:Er) single crystals with a high mp of 2413 °C was achieved by the melt-growth method using a tungsten (W) crucible. Polished LHO:Er specimens were obtained from the as-grown crystals. The full width at half maximum of the X-ray Rocking curve on the (222) diffraction peak was 599 arcsec, and the crystals have relatively low crystallinity. The photoluminescence spectra of the polished LHO:Er specimen showed emission peaks originating from the Er3+ ions in both the visible and IR wavelength ranges. It also exhibited scintillation light under X-ray irradiation.