A Simple and Highly Efficient Method for Synthesis of Ce³⁺‐Activated Borogermanate Scintillating Glasses in Air

Abstract

Fast Ce3+ -activated borogermanate scintillating glasses with the density of 5.58-5.67 g/cm 3 were synthesized by melt quenching method in air atmosphere for the first time. The optical transmittance and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy results confirm that Ce 4+ ions can be effectively reduced to Ce 3+ ions by adding 0.31 mol% Si 3 N 4 as a strong reducing agent during glass synthesis. The luminescence behavior under both ultraviolet and X-ray excitations indicate that the proposed Ce 3+ -activated borogermanate scintillating glasses have a broad emission band centered at 430 nm and a decay time of less than 25 ns. This will be of great interest in high-energy physics and nuclear physics engineering.

Enhancement of emission intensity in Ce3+‐activated aluminoborosilicate scintillating glass synthesized in air

“…The above‐mentioned reduction conditions not only complicate the synthesis process of glass material, but also accordingly increase the production cost. Interestingly, some reducing agents such as Si 3 N 4 and SiC that exhibit intrinsic reduction nature, have been utilized to synthesize certain transparent and colorless glasses activated with cerium ions. This strategy seems to be more effective in borosilicate, borogermanate, and borate glass systems as reported in our previous work.…”

“…Interestingly, some reducing agents such as Si 3 N 4 and SiC that exhibit intrinsic reduction nature, have been utilized to synthesize certain transparent and colorless glasses activated with cerium ions. This strategy seems to be more effective in borosilicate, borogermanate, and borate glass systems as reported in our previous work. It is experimentally confirmed that Ce 4+ is easier to be reduced in borosilicate glass containing Al 2 O 3 component by introducing nitrides such as Si 3 N 4 in previous work .…”

Enhanced emission intensity of Ce 3+ ions in Li 2 O–B 2 O 3 –Gd 2 O 3 scintillating glasses by adding carbon and Si 3 N 4 agent

“…Fig. 2(a), two groups of broad bands in 250-300 and 300-400 nm regions are ascribed to the 4f-5d 3,4,5 and 4f-5d 1,2 transition, respectively [18]. Under direct excitation at the 4f-5d 1,2 , a typical emission 5d 1 -2 F 5/2,7/2 Ce 3+ emission extending from 300 to 450 nm is observed, as shown in the emission spectra of Fig.…”

“…Optical transmittance spectra [18,19]. Generally, the higher the concentration of Ce 3+ ions in glass, the shorter wavelength the cut-off edge of glass will be.…”

“…To our best knowledge, the scintillating properties of Ce 3+ ions in Li 2 B 4 O 7 glass have not been reported [16,17]. Therefore, in the present work, Ce 3 + -activated Li 2 B 4 O 7 scintillating glasses are synthesized in air atmosphere by adding appropriate carbon and Si 3 N 4 powder as a strong reducing agent for the first time [18]. The scintillating properties are comparatively investigated by the optical transmittance, photoluminescence, and X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) spectra.…”