Gd2O3:Eu Nanoparticle-Based Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Composites for Indirect X-ray Detection

Abstract

Polymer-based scintillator composites have been fabricated by combining poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and Gd2O3:Eu nanoparticles (50 nm). PVDF has been used since it is a flexible and stable binder matrix and highly resistant to thermal and light deterioration. Gd2O3:Eu has been selected as the scintillator material due to its wide band gap, high density and suitable visible light yield. The structural, mechanical, thermal and electrical characteristics of the composites were studied as a function of filler content, together with their performance as scintillator material. The introduction of Gd2O3:Eu nanoparticles into the PVDF matrix does not influence the morphology of the polymer or the degree of crystallinity. On the other hand, an increase of the Young’s modulus when compared to the one of the PVDF matrix is observed for filler contents of 0.1–0.75 wt.%. The introduction of Gd2O3:Eu into the PVDF matrix increases the dielectric constant and DC electrical conductivity as well as the visible light yield in the nanocomposite, being this increase dependent upon Gd2O3:Eu content and x-ray input power. In this way, Gd2O3:Eu/PVDF composites show suitable characteristics to be used as x-ray radiation transducers, in particular for large area applications.