Light yield and thermal quenching of Ce3+ and Pr3+ co-doped LaBr3:Sm2+ near-infrared scintillators

Journal Article (2023)
Authors

Casper van Aarle (TU Delft - RST/Luminescence Materials)

Nils Roturier (Student TU Delft)

Daniel A. Biner (University of Bern)

Karl W. Krämer (University of Bern)

P. Dorenbos (TU Delft - RST/Luminescence Materials)

Research Group
RST/Luminescence Materials
Copyright
© 2023 C. van Aarle, Nils Roturier, Daniel A. Biner, Karl W. Krämer, P. Dorenbos
To reference this document use:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2023.114375
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 C. van Aarle, Nils Roturier, Daniel A. Biner, Karl W. Krämer, P. Dorenbos
Research Group
RST/Luminescence Materials
Volume number
145
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2023.114375
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Abstract

LaBr3:Ce3+ is a compound with excellent scintillation properties, but its ultraviolet emission does not match well with the detection efficiency curves of silicon based photodetectors. In this work, Sm2+ is studied as an activator for LaBr3 as its near-infrared emission can be detected with close to 100% efficiency by such photodetectors. LaBr3:Sm2+ single crystals were grown with and without co-doping of Ce3+ or Pr3+. The samples were studied by means of X-ray excited and photoluminescence spectroscopy at temperatures between 10 K and 300 K. Their spectroscopic properties are compared to LaBr3:Ce3+ and LaBr3:Eu2+. The effect of using Ce3+ or Pr3+ as scintillation sensitiser for Sm2+ is assessed. It is found that energy transfer from host to Sm2+ greatly improves upon Ce3+ co-doping, but the quenching temperature of the Sm2+ emission decreases. The quenching mechanism of both the Ce3+ and Sm2+ emission in LaBr3 is elaborated on. Furthermore, the effect of charge compensating defects on the light yield and spectroscopic properties is discussed.