Luminescence and scintillation properties of the small band gap compound LaI 3:Ce 3+

A. Bessiere, P. Dorenbos, C. W. E. van Eijk, K. W. Krämer, H. U. Güdel, C. de Mello Donega, A. Meijerink

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

LaI3:Ce3+ has the smallest band gap in the LaX3:Ce3+ (X=F, Cl, Br, I) series and hence a potentially higher scintillation yield. The luminescence properties of LaI3:Ce were investigated by means of optical, X-ray, and γ-ray excitation. Unexpectedly, the compound is a poor scintillator at room temperature but presents good scintillation properties for temperatures below 100 K where Ce3+ emission is observed peaking at 452 and 502 nm with a yield of ˜16 000 photons/MeV. The drastic thermal quenching of luminescence is explained by the proximity of the Ce3+ lowest 5d excited state to the host conduction band. Autoionization of Ce3+ therefore prevents any scintillation effect at room temperature. The positions of Ce3+ levels relative to the host bands were estimated.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)22-26
JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A
Volume537
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2005

Keywords

  • Iodide
  • Ce3+
  • γ-detection
  • Rare-earth trihalides
  • Scintillation crystals

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