Structural, photoluminescence and scintillation properties of Ce-doped Al(PO3)3–Sr(PO3)2–CsPO3 inorganic glass scintillators for gamma- and X-ray detection

Abstract

Scintillators have been commercialized as radiation detectors in several practical applications. However, fabrication of commercial inorganic crystal scintillators is time-consuming and expensive. Herein, we report inorganic glass scintillators for gamma and X-ray detection based on phosphate glasses, with alkali and alkali earth metals in the host and Ce3+ ions as emission centers. Unlike inorganic crystals, inorganic glasses have industrial advantages owing to their low cost and ease of fabrication, which facilitate the large-scale production of scintillators. Previously studied inorganic glass scintillators for gamma and X-ray detection exhibited low light yields compared to inorganic crystal scintillators. In contrast, our glass exhibits a high light yield of 3200 photons/MeV. This light yield is higher than that of previously reported glasses, whose light yields are less than several hundred photons/MeV in most cases and approximately 2000 photons/MeV as the highest value. In addition, this glass has a relatively high density of 3.33 g/cm3 and a fast scintillation decay of approximately 30 ns, which is attributed to the 5d–4f transition of Ce3+ ions acting as emission centers. These properties are suitable for gamma and X-ray detection and this glass has the potential to expand the practical applications of inorganic glass scintillators.