Growth and scintillation properties of Ce doped [formula omitted]LiBr/LaBr[formula omitted] eutectic scintillator for neutron detection.

In this study, Ce:6LiBr/LaBr 3 eutectic with a high Li concentration was developed as a novel thermal neutron scintillator. Ce served as an activator for the LaBr 3 phase, and Ce:6LiBr/LaBr 3 eutectics were grown via the vertical Bridgman method in quartz ampoules (inner diameter = 4 mm). In the eutectic, the 6LiBr phase worked as the neutron capture phase by the 6Li (n, a) 3H reaction, and Ce:LaBr 3 worked as the scintillator phase. The Ce:6LiBr/LaBr 3 eutectic exhibited a lamellar eutectic structure and optical transparency, as well as 350 and 380 nm emission due to Ce 3 + 5d-4f transition. The light yield under neutrons excitation was estimated to be 74000 photons/neutron. The scintillation decay time was 18.7 ns. • Optically semitransparent Ce-doped 6LiBr/LaBr 3 eutectic was grown. • The vertical Bridgman–Stockbarger (VB) method enables unidirectional solidification to grow the directionally solidified eutectic (DSE). • Ce 3 + emission peaks at 350 and 380 nm were observed in the LaBr 3 phase. • Scintillation decay time under 252Cf neutron excitation was 18.7 ns. • The light yield under 252Cf neutron excitation was around 74000 photon/neutron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]