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Codoping is a method of current interest for modifying the properties of scintillators. The study reported here explores the effect of codoping on cerium doped Gd 3 Ga 3 Al 2 O 12 (GGAG:Ce) crystals with various concentrations of Ca. These single crystals were grown via the Czochralski technique with Ce concentrations fixed at 0.2 at% and Ca concentrations ranging from 0.1 at% to 0.4 at% in the initial melt. The relationship between dopant concentration and light yield, rise time, and scintillation and photoluminescence decay times was determined. In addition, the absorbance, photoluminescence, radioluminescence, afterglow and thermoluminescence dependence on the dopant concentration are presented. In some of the Ca codoped crystals, an additional luminescence center was observed with an excitation wavelength of 350 nm and an emission wavelength of 400 nm and a photoluminescence decay time of ~3.5 ns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we demonstrated a drastic improvement in energy resolution of (Lu0.75Y0.25)3Al5O12:Pr (LuYAG) single crystal scintillators from 4.8% to 4.1% at 662 keV upon Li+ codoping, which is the best value ever reported in the class of oxide single crystal scintillators. Li+ codoping can also significantly enhance its scintillation yield from 16 000 to 25 000 photons MeV−1, but slightly prolong the scintillation decay time. As Li+ codoping was found to have a negligible effect on the light yield non‐proportionality, we attributed the significant improvement in energy resolution to the reduced statistical variance in the number of photoelectrons produced in the photomultiplier tube (Rstat). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of Eu2+-activated SrI2, one of the most leading-edge scintillators for gamma-ray spectroscopy applications, have a low radioactive background, excellent energy resolution of 2.6%–3% at 662 keV, and high light yield of 80 000–120 000 photons/MeV. In this article, tetravalent ions codoping, namely, Hf4+ codoping, was used to enhance its scintillation performance. $\emptyset 12$ mm diameter SrI2:Eu2+ single crystals codoped with 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 at% Hf4+ were successfully grown by the multiampoule Bridgman method. All grown crystals are highly transparent, crack-free, and inclusion-free. The effects of Hf4+ codoping concentration on the optical and scintillation properties were studied. The gamma-ray energy resolutions of SrI2:Eu single crystals can be improved from 3.4% to 3.1% at 662 keV, and from 6.6% to 6.0% at 122 keV upon 0.05 at% Hf4+ codoping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codoping is an effective approach for precise control of point defects in many advanced materials, and can be used to optimize their function. This paper reports an effort toward tailoring the scintillation properties of metal halides through defect engineering. A study of aliovalent codoping of the KCaI3:Eu2+ single‐crystalline scintillators is performed, through which it is discovered that a simultaneous suppression of X‐ray induced afterglow and improvement of gamma‐ray energy resolution can be successfully achieved via Zr4+ codoping. The afterglow level is reduced by more than twofold with Zr4+ codoping. The energy resolution of a 5 mm cubic KCaI3:Eu2+ sample is improved from 3.25 to 2.7% at 662 keV, and 6.5 to 5.73% at 122 keV upon Zr4+ codoping. Physical explanations for the improvements are revealed from our investigations into both the electronic structure and thermodynamics of the defects by using thermoluminescence techniques and density functional theory calculations. The codoped Zr4+ ions prefer to form interstitials acting as shallow electron traps. The {ZrCa+VCa} complex can co‐exist with Zri interstitials as shallow hole traps under certain condition, which are able to trap holes temporarily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europium doped strontium iodide (SrI 2 :Eu 2 +) is one of the cutting-edge halide scintillators for gamma-ray spectroscopy applications due to its low radioactive background, ultrahigh light yield (70,000–100,000 photons/MeV), and excellent gamma-ray energy resolution (2.6%–3% at 662 keV). In this work, we report an improvement in the scintillation characteristics of SrI 2 :Eu 2 + single crystals via tetravalent ion codoping, namely Zr 4 +. High quality SrI 2 :Eu 2 + single crystals codoped with 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 at.% Zr 4 + were grown by the Multi-ampoule Bridgman method. All of the as-grown crystals are transparent, crack-and inclusion-free. They have high optical quality with a transmittance of over 70%. The effects of Zr 4 + codoping on spectral properties and decay kinetics of SrI 2 :Eu 2 + under optical, and x- and gamma-ray excitation are studied. An enhancement of gamma-ray spectroscopic resolution from 2.8 to 2.5% at 662 keV and 5.4 to 5% at 122 keV is achieved upon Zr 4 + codoping with a slightly enhanced light yield of 95,000 photons/MeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the photoluminescence and scintillation performance of Pr3+ doped (Lu 0.75 Y 0.25) 3 Al 5 O 12 single crystals as a function of Li+ concentration. Lithium concentration had no effect on the optical properties of LuYAG: Pr single crystal scintillators regardless of concentration. On the other hand, scintillation light yield increased by as much as 94% with the incorporation of lithium as a codopant, and the energy resolution at 662 keV was improved to 4.1%, which is an outstanding energy resolution for an oxide single crystal scintillator. Lithium codoping slightly lengthened the fast component of the scintillation decay time, and slightly decreased the contribution from the slow component. Additionally, the samples were annealed in air and scintillation properties were compared before and after this annealing treatment. The change in scintillation properties is explained through the analysis of thermoluminescence glow curves. • Li codoping of LuYAG: Pr can increase light yield, improve energy resolution. • Air annealing improves light yield of LuYAG: Pr, Li by reducing trap concentration. • Thermoluminescence suggests traps play important role in scintillation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially available Lu2SiO5:Ce (LSO:Ce) scintillators for the nuclear medical imaging applications, such as positron electron tomography (PET), normally have a light yield of 30 000–32 000 photons/MeV and a scintillation decay time of 43–45 ns. We demonstrate a simultaneous improvement of light yield and decay time of LSO:Ce single crystal scintillators with lithium codoping. Li codoping significantly enhances the light yield of LSO:Ce from 32 500 to 39 000 photons/MeV, shortens the scintillation decay time from 45.4 to 42.1 ns, and reduces the room temperature afterglow by around one order of magnitude. The physical insights on the role of Li codopants in scintillation mechanism are provided by studying cerium oxidation state, luminescence properties of cerium activator centers, defect structure, and preferential occupation of lithium ions. The improved light yield and afterglow are explained in terms of the dissociation of spatially correlated oxygen vacancies (VO) and Ce centers or the suppression of VO formation, allowing a more efficient electron migration to Ce centers. We attribute the decay time shortening upon Li+ codoping to the reduction of slow Ce2 emissions via a non‐radiative energy transfer from six‐coordinated Ce2 to seven‐coordinated Ce1 centers. This letter reports a simultaneous improvement of light yield, decay time, and afterglow of Lu2SiO5:Ce3+ scintillation detectors by Li+ codoping. Analysis reveals the non‐conversion of stable Ce3+ to Ce4+ upon Li codoping, and the critical role of Li site occupancy on the suppression of oxygen vacancies. This strategy is also expected to be extended to other oxide scintillators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]