New developments in X-ray storage phosphors

Abstract

We found a significant PSL effect in Eu2+-doped fluorozirconate glasses (ZBLAN) which were additionally doped with Br− or Cl− ions. The PSL is attributed to the characteristic emission of Eu2+ present in nano-crystallites of BaBr2 or BaCl2, which form in the glass upon annealing. The metastable hexagonal form of BaX2(X=Br,Cl) is always formed first before it is converted into the stable orthorhombic form. The particle size increases upon annealing and so does the PSL efficiency of the glass ceramic. However, there is a saturation of the PSL efficiency, which is for Br− doping about 9% and for Cl−-doping about 80% of the Eu-doped BaFBr standard. The particle size was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM results show a clear tendency for bigger particles for longer annealing at the expense of its number. The particle size for the most efficient phosphor is about 100nm.