Composite thermoluminescent detectors based on the Ce3+ doped LuAG/YAG and YAG/LuAG epitaxial structures

Single Crystalline Films of Ce3+-Doped Y3MgxSiyAl5-x-yO12 Garnets: Crystallization, Optical, and Photocurrent Properties

This research focuses on LPE growth, and the examination of the optical and photovoltaic properties of single crystalline film (SCF) phosphors based on Ce³⁺-doped Y₃Mg_xSi_yAl_5-x-yO₁₂ garnets with Mg and Si contents in x = 0-0.345 and y = 0-0.31 ranges. The absorbance, luminescence, scintillation, and photocurrent properties of Y₃Mg_xSi_yAl_5-x-yO₁₂:Ce SCFs were examined in comparison with Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (YAG:Ce) counterpart. Especially prepared YAG:Ce SCFs with a low (x, y < 0.1) concentration of Mg²⁺ and Mg²⁺-Si⁴⁺ codopants also showed a photocurrent that increased with rising Mg²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ concentrations. Mg²⁺ excess was systematically present in as-grown Y₃Mg_xSi_yAl_5-x-yO₁₂:Ce SCFs. The as-grown SCFs of these garnets under the excitation of α-particles had a low light yield (LY) and a fast scintillation response with a decay time in the ns range due to producing the Ce⁴⁺ ions as compensators for the Mg²⁺ excess. The Ce⁴⁺ dopant recharged to the Ce³⁺ state after SCF annealing at T > 1000 °C in a reducing atmosphere (95%N₂ + 5%H₂). Annealed SCF samples exhibited an LY of around 42% and similar scintillation decay kinetics to those of the YAG:Ce SCF counterpart. The photoluminescence studies of Y₃Mg_xSi_yAl_5-x-yO₁₂:Ce SCFs provide evidence for Ce³⁺ multicenter formation and the presence of an energy transfer between various Ce³⁺ multicenters. The Ce³⁺ multicenters possessed variable crystal field strengths in the nonequivalent dodecahedral sites of the garnet host due to the substitution of the octahedral positions by Mg²⁺ and the tetrahedral positions by Si⁴⁺. In comparison with YAG:Ce SCF, the Ce³⁺ luminescence spectra of Y₃Mg_xSi_yAl_5-x-yO₁₂:Ce SCFs greatly expanded in the red region. Using these beneficial trends of changes in the optical and photocurrent properties of Y₃Mg_xSi_yAl_5-x-yO₁₂:Ce garnets as a result of Mg²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ alloying, a new generation of SCF converters for white LEDs, photovoltaics, and scintillators could be developed.

Application of the LPE-Grown LuAG: Ce Film/YAG Crystal Composite Thermoluminescence Detector for Distinguishing the Components of the Mixed Radiation Field

Single-crystalline films (SCFs) of the LuAG: Ce garnet grown using the liquid-phase epitaxy method onto YAG single-crystal (SC) substrates were investigated for possible applications as composite thermoluminescent (TL) detectors. Such detectors may help to register the different components of ionizing radiation fields with various penetration depths, e.g., heavy charged particles and gamma or beta rays. It was found that the TL signal of LuAG: Ce SCF sufficiently differs from that of the YAG substrate concerning both the temperature and wavelength of emissions. Furthermore, even by analyzing TL glow curves, it was possible to distinguish the difference between weakly and deeply penetrating types of radiation. Within a test involving the exposure of detectors with the mixed alpha/beta radiations, the doses of both components were determined with an accuracy of a few percent.

Development of the Composite Thermoluminescent Detectors Based on the Single Crystalline Films and Crystals of Perovskite Compounds

This work is dedicated to the development of new types of composite thermoluminescent detectors based on the single crystalline films of Ce-doped GdAlO₃ perovskite and Mn-doped YAlO₃ and (Lu_0.8Y_0.2)AlO₃:Mn perovskites as well as Ce and Pr-doped YAlO₃ single crystal substrates. These detectors were obtained using the Liquid Phase Epitaxy growth method from the melt solution based on the PbO-B₂O₃ fluxes. Such composite detectors can by applied for the simultaneous registration of different components of mixed ionization fluxes using the differences between the thermoluminescent glow curves, recorded from the film and crystal parts of epitaxial structures. For creation of the new composite detectors, we considered using, for the film and crystal components of epitaxial structures (i) the different perovskite matrixes doped with the same type of activator or (ii) the same perovskite host with various types of activators. The thermoluminescent properties of the different types of epitaxial structures based on the abovementioned films and crystal substrates were examined in the conditions of β-particles and X-ray excitation with aim of determination of the optimal combination of perovskites for composite detectors. It was shown that, among the structures with all the studied compositions, the best properties for the simultaneous thermoluminescent detection of α- and X-rays were the GdAlO₃:Ce film/YAlO₃:Ce crystal epitaxial structure.

Infrared Stimulated Luminescence of Ce3+ Doped YAG Crystals

In this study, the infrared optically stimulated luminescence (IRSL) of single crystals of Ce³⁺ doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) was investigated for the first time. It was found that infrared stimulation of these crystals, following previous exposure to beta radiation, produces a strong luminescence signal. The highest luminescence efficiency was exhibited by the YAG crystal with 0.1% of Ce. With this crystal, it was possible to measure as low doses as 0.1 mGy. Moreover, IRSL is mainly related to the TL peak at a relatively high temperature of c.a. 175 °C, which leads to quite good stability of the signal in time. These properties create good prospects for potential applications of YAG:Ce in dosimetric radiation measurements.

Basic Characteristics of Dose Distributions of Photons Beam for Radiotherapeutic Applications Using YAG:Ce Crystal Detectors

Thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) dosimetry is a versatile tool for the assessment of dose from ionizing radiation. In this work, the Ce³⁺ doped Y₃Al₅O₁₂ garnet (YAG:Ce) with a density ρ = 4.56 g/cm³ and effective atomic number Z_eff = 35 emerged as a prospective TSL material in radiotherapy applications due to its excellent radiation stability, uniformity of structural and optical properties, high yield of TSL, and good position of main glow peak around 290-300 °C. Namely, the set of TSL detectors produced from the YAG:Ce single crystal is used for identification of the uniformity of dose and energy spectra of X-ray radiation generated by the clinical accelerator with 6 MV and 15 MV beams located in Radiotherapy Department at the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz, Poland. We have found that the YAG:Ce crystal detects shows very promising results for registration of X-ray radiation generated by the accelerator with 6 MV beam. The next step in the research is connected with application of TSL detectors based on the crystals of much heavier garnets than YAG. It is estimated that the LuAG:Ce garnet crystals with high density ρ = 6.0 g/cm³ and Z_eff = 62 can be used to evaluate the X-rays produced by the accelerator with the 15 MV beam.

Composite Detectors Based on Single-Crystalline Films and Single Crystals of Garnet Compounds

This manuscript summarizes recent results on the development of composite luminescent materials based on the single-crystalline films and single crystals of simple and mixed garnet compounds obtained by the liquid-phase epitaxy growth method. Such composite materials can be applied as scintillating and thermoluminescent (TL) detectors for radiation monitoring of mixed ionization fluxes, as well as scintillation screens in the microimaging techniques. The film and crystal parts of composite detectors were fabricated from efficient scintillation/TL materials based on Ce³⁺-, Pr³⁺-, and Sc³⁺-doped Lu₃Al₅O₁₂ garnets, as well as Ce³⁺-doped Gd_3−xA_xAl_5−yGa_yO₁₂ mixed garnets, where A = Lu or Tb; x = 0–1; y = 2–3 with significantly different scintillation decay or positions of the main peaks in their TL glow curves. This work also summarizes the results of optical study of films, crystals, and epitaxial structures of these garnet compounds using absorption, cathodoluminescence, and photoluminescence. The scintillation and TL properties of the developed materials under α- and β-particles and γ-quanta excitations were studied as well. The most efficient variants of the composite scintillation and TL detectors for monitoring of composition of mixed beams of ionizing radiation were selected based on the results of this complex study.

LPE Growth of Composite Thermoluminescent Detectors Based on the Lu3−xGdxAl5O12:Ce Single Crystalline Films and YAG:Ce Crystals

This work is dedicated to the development of new types of composite thermoluminescent (TL) detectors for simultaneous registration of the different components of ionization radiation based on the single crystalline films (SCFs) of Ce3+-doped Lu3−xGdxAl5O12:Ce (x = 0–1.5) garnet and Y3Al5O12:Ce (YAG:Ce) substrates using the liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) growth method. For this purpose, the TL properties of the mentioned epitaxial structures were examined in Risø TL/OSL-DA-20 reader under excitation by α- and β-particles from 242Am and 90Sr-90Y sources. We have shown that the cation engineering of SCF content can result in more significant separation of the TL glow curves of SCFs and substrates under α- and β-particle excitations in comparison with the prototype of such composite detectors based on the Lu3Al5O12:Ce (LuAG:Ce)/YAG:Ce epitaxial structure. Specifically, the difference between the TL glow curves of Lu1.5Gd1.5Al5O12:Ce SCFs and YAG:Ce substrates increases up to 120 K in comparison with a respective value of 80 degrees in the prototype based on the LuAG:Ce/YAG:Ce epitaxial structure. Therefore, the LPE-grown epitaxial structures containing Lu1.5Gd1.5Al5O12:Ce SCFs and Ce3+-doped YAG:Ce substrate can be successfully applied for simultaneous registration of α- and β-particles in mixed fluxes of ionization radiation.