Growth, Structural Considerations, and Characterization of Ce-Doped (La,Gd)₂Si₂O₇ Scintillating Crystals

Abstract

Ce-doped lantanium-gadolinium pyrosilicate (La,Ce,Gd) 2 Si 2 O 7 (Ce:La-GPS), crystals with various content of rare-earth elements were produced from the melt, and their optimal La/Gd ratio was examined. It was found that Ce:La-GPS single crystals of acceptable optical quality can be produced from the melts ranging from La 0.5 Gd 1.5 Si 2 O 7 to La 1.0 Gd 1.0 Si 2 O 7 and containing about 1 atom % Ce with respect to the host rare-earths of La and Gd. The crystal growth was performed by the micro-pulling-down and Czochralski methods. The crystals were chemically uniform along the growth axis, and their composition was equal to that of the melt, thus corresponding to vicinity of congruent melting composition. Spatial distribution of Ce in La-GPS was also inspected, and no variation of Ce content was detected as a result of its similarity to one of the host cations (La) regarding the size. Basic optical and scintillation properties of the Ce:La-GPS crystals are also reported, and it is demonstrated that partial substitution of Gd with La has no negative impact on crystal growth and physical performance of the crystals.

Crystal growth and scintillation properties of multi-component oxide single crystals: Ce:GGAG and Ce:La-GPS

“…Therefore, first growth of the Ce-doped (La,Gd)2Si2O7 crystals was performed from the melt containing approximately equal amounts of La2O3 and Gd2O3. The growth was carried out from iridium crucible using CZ system with inductive heating in Ar+O2(2%) atmosphere [32]. Composition of the starting material was La0.98Ce0.02Gd1.0Si2O7.…”

Czochralski growth of 2 in. Ce-doped (La,Gd)2Si2O7 for scintillator application

“…Regarding the crystal quality, the best growth results reported in [1] were observed for the CZ crystals produced from the melt of about La0.5Gd1.5Si2O7 composition. This composition represents only the host material without consideration of the Ce-dopant content.…”

“…This communication discusses recent results on Czochralski growth of 2 inch diameter crystals of approximately La0.5Gd1.5Si2O7 composition doped with Ce 3+ . Such crystals demonstrated sufficient structural stability and adequate optical quality [1]. The details of the CZ process are discussed.…”

“…formed by the two end members of La2Si2O7 and Gd2Si2O7 (GPS) [1,2]. Recent findings demonstrated that La-GPS in high degree behaves as an actual original compound because its structural and chemical properties do not correspond to simple linear superposition of the characteristics of La2Si2O7 and GPS [1]. La-GPS have triclinic structure at least in the compositional range from La0.2Gd1.8Si2O7 to La1.2Gd0.8Si2O7 [3].…”

“…Growth of La-GPS crystals by Czochralski (CZ) method was inspected in the range of La0.5Gd1.5Si2O7 to La1.0Gd1.0Si2O7 compositions in the recent past [1], and the best growth results corresponded to the crystals grown from the melt of about La0.5Gd1.5Si2O7 composition.…”