Abstract
Non-stoichiometric Lu3+xAl5O12:Ce (Lu3+xAG:Ce, x=1, 2, 3 and 4 %) ceramics were fabricated by solid state reaction method and further optimized by an air-annealing process. Absorption, luminescence spectra and scintillation characteristics such as light yield, scintillation decay times, energy resolution, proportionality and afterglow were measured and compared with those of the latest LuAG:Ce single crystal and stoichiometric LuAG:Ce,Mg ceramic samples. Thanks to the elimination of oxygen vacancies produced in the vacuum sintering process, air-annealing treatment led to a significant decrease of afterglow and a remarkable enhancement of radioluminescence intensity and light yield. The highest light yield was found in annealed 1% Lu3+ rich Lu3+1%AG:Ce ceramic, reaching 14,760ph/MeV (1μs shaping time) and 22,400ph/MeV (10μs shaping time). Scintillation decays of Lu3+xAG:Ce ceramics consist of both fast (decay time 65–73ns) and slow (decay time 740–1116ns) decay components where the relative intensity of the latter is higher (~58%). A decreasing trend in scintillation efficiency was observed with increasing excess of Lu (with higher x values) in the samples. This can be explained by the existence of various electron traps due to LuAl antisite defect and structure disorder at the gain boundaries and interfaces.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.