High Quantum Efficiency Rare-Earth-Doped Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>S:Tb, F Scintillators for Cold Neutron Imaging
Bin Tang,
Wei Yin,
Qibiao Wang,
Long Chen,
Heyong Huo,
Yang Wu,
Hongchao Yang,
Chenghua Sun,
Shuyun Zhou
Affiliations
Bin Tang
Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
Wei Yin
Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
Qibiao Wang
Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
Long Chen
Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Heyong Huo
Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
Yang Wu
Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621000, China
Hongchao Yang
School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
Chenghua Sun
Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Shuyun Zhou
Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
High-resolution neutron radiography provides novel and stirring opportunities to investigate the structures of light elements encased by heavy elements. For this study, a series of Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles were prepared using a high-temperature solid phase method and then used as a scintillation screen. Upon reaching 293 nm excitation, a bright green emission originated from the Tb3+ luminescence center. The level of F doping affected the fluorescence intensity. When the F doping level was 8 mol%, the fluorescence intensity was at its highest. The absolute quantum yield of the synthesized particles reached as high as 77.21%. Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles were applied to the scintillation screen, showing a resolution on the neutron radiograph as high as 12 μm. These results suggest that the highly efficient Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles are promising scintillators for the purposes of cold neutron radiography.
