Development and synthesis of durable self-glowing crystals doped with plutonium

Abstract

Different crystalline materials doped with plutonium and other alpha-emitting radionuclides are characterized by self-glowing. Some of these materials, in particular, monocrystalline ones, which are highly chemically resistant, mechanically durable, and stable under radiation damage are promising for application in optical couplers, robotics and medicine. They might be used for a long time (from tens to hundreds years) in aggressive chemical media and space. Crystals with low content of radionuclides (less than 0.1 wt%) but intensive self-glowing are main subject of interest. Phosphate and silicate single crystals with zircon structure: xenotime, (Y,…)PO 4 and zircon, (Zr,…)SiO 4, were doped with 238Pu, 237Np and non-radioactive elements: Eu 3+; In 3+ and Tb 3+. The most intensive self-glowing was obtained for xenotime crystals doped with 0.1 wt% 238Pu and Eu; and for zircon crystals doped with 0.01 wt% 238Pu and coupled admixture of In and Tb.