Synthesis of GAGG:Ce³⁺ powder for ceramics using mechanochemical and solution combustion methods

Abstract

Gadolinium aluminum gallium garnet doped with cerium (Gd2.99Al2.00Ga3.00O12.00:Ce0.01, or GAGG:Ce) powders has been synthesized with high‐energy ball milling (HEBM) and solution combustion synthesis (SCS) techniques. The structures and morphologies of the powders were characterized through use of powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), photoluminescence (PL) measurements, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV‐decay time measurements. Changes in the mechanochemically produced powders were monitored over time, while the solution combustion synthesis of GAGG:Ce was conducted using various ratios and types of fuels. In both production methods, particle sizes on the order of microns gave evidence of agglomeration.

Structural and Scintillation Properties of Ce3+:Gd3Al3Ga2O12 Translucent Ceramics Prepared by One-Step Sintering

“…Ce 3+ : GAGG is a high-quality scintillator material, which has the advantages of high density (6.7 g/cm 3 ), high light yield, short luminescence decay time, and no spontaneous radiation [10]. The effective atomic number of the GAGG crystal is as high as 54.4, and its emission peak is also well matched with the photodetector, making it good for applications in CT [11]. In addition, because Ce:GAGG contains the element Gd, the isotope of Gd has the largest known thermal neutron reaction cross section and is suitable for applications such as high-energy physics quantifiers and neutron detectors [12].…”